MaldivesSaudi Arabia: e-Visa

MaldivesSaudi Arabia

Do Maldives passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

e-Visa

Yes. Maldives passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia, available online as an e-visa before travel.

An e-visa must be applied for and approved online before travel.

Source: visa.visitsaudi.com (checked July 17, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stay3 months

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance3,663 km, straight line (~4h 49m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Saudi Arabia21 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Saudi Arabia passport holders visiting Maldives: Visa on arrival.

Saudi Arabia drives on the right, the opposite side to Maldives. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Visa-free alternatives near Saudi Arabia

Maldives passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for Maldives passport holders

See all Maldives destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Maldives passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Maldives passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia, available online as an e-visa before travel.

How long can Maldives citizens stay in Saudi Arabia without a visa?

Up to 3 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is Saudi Arabia from Maldives?

About 3,663 km in a straight line, roughly ~4h 49m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi riyal (SAR).

What is the emergency number in Saudi Arabia?

112 / 911 / 999.

Does Saudi Arabia drive on the same side of the road as Maldives?

Saudi Arabia drives on the right, the opposite side to Maldives. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

What time zone is Saudi Arabia in?

Riyadh (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Riyadh?

King Khalid International Airport (RUH), about 31 km away.

How many countries can enter Saudi Arabia without a visa?

21 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Saudi Arabia visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can Maldives passport holders visit without a visa instead of Saudi Arabia?

United Arab Emirates, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Azerbaijan.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Maldives

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an archipelagic country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean, near the southeastern boundary of the Arabian Sea. The Maldives is located southwest of India and Sri Lanka, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

CapitalMale

RegionSouthern Asia

Population529.7K

Area300 km²

CurrencyMaldivian rufiyaa (1 USD ≈ 15.43 MVR)

LanguagesMaldivian

Calling code+960

Drives on theleft

TimezoneMaldives (UTC+5)

Nearest airportVelana International Airport (MLE), 3 km

Emergency number102 / 118 / 119

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$14,615 (2025)

Tourist arrivals555K (2020)

Travel guide

The Maldives are a chain of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean with picture-perfect beaches, strikingly blue water, and luxury resorts. There are 200 inhabited islands and 165 islands with tourist resorts. Just under the surface of the beautiful blue ocean, there's a wealth of wildlife to see: over 2000 species of fish in all colours of the rainbow roam the clear waters around the islands.

Full source list on About.

About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia that occupies the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. Covering a land area of approximately 2,149,690 km2 (830,000 sq mi), it is the fifth-largest country in Asia and the twelfth-largest in the world. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north, the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest separates it from Egypt and Israel. Riyadh is the capital and largest city, while other major centers include Jeddah and the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina.

CapitalRiyadh

RegionWestern Asia

Population37M

Area2,149,690 km²

CurrencySaudi riyal (1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR)

LanguagesArabic

Calling code+966

Drives on theright

TimezoneRiyadh (UTC+3)

Nearest airportKing Khalid International Airport (RUH), 31 km

Emergency number112 / 911 / 999

UNESCO sites8

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$34,537 (2025)

Tourist arrivals20.3M (2019)

Climate in Riyadh

Warmest July, coolest January, driest May, sunniest August. Best time to visit: March, October.

Monthly climate normals for Riyadh, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	19.5°C	7.5°C	16mm	299h
February	24.3°C	11°C	2mm	279h
March	27.9°C	15.1°C	1mm	324h
April	33°C	20.8°C	10mm	312h
May	38.3°C	24.9°C	0mm	348h
June	41.9°C	28.3°C	0mm	360h
July	43.6°C	31.1°C	0mm	359h
August	41.9°C	28.9°C	0mm	364h
September	39.7°C	26°C	0mm	326h
October	32.6°C	19°C	0mm	341h
November	28.2°C	16°C	5mm	301h
December	21.6°C	10.3°C	4mm	301h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Saudi Arabia is the quintessential Arab kingdom. Vast deserts, scorching heat, immense oil wealth, camel races, glitzy shopping malls, traditional souq markets, you can find every Arabian cliche you can think of and then some here. A deeply conservative country that was entirely closed off to (non-pilgrimage) tourism for decades, the government did a drastic policy U-turn in 2019 and has been trying to open up the country to the world and shed the country's straight-laced image, with mixed success.

Full source list on About.