South AfricaSaudi Arabia: e-Visa

South AfricaSaudi Arabia

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

e-Visa

Yes. South Africa 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

Distance5,949 km, straight line (~7h 30m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Saudi Arabia21 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Saudi Arabia passport holders visiting South Africa: Visa-free.

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

Visa-free alternatives near Saudi Arabia

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

Other visa-free destinations for South Africa passport holders

See all South Africa destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

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

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

Up to 3 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is Saudi Arabia from South Africa?

About 5,949 km in a straight line, roughly ~7h 30m 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 South Africa?

Saudi Arabia drives on the right, the opposite side to South Africa. 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 South Africa passport holders visit without a visa instead of Saudi Arabia?

Qatar, Oman, Iran, Jordan, Israel, Syria.

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 South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. South Africa also encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres, the country has a population of over 63 million people, making it the sixth-most populated country in Africa, and 24th-most in the world.

CapitalPretoria

RegionSouthern Africa

Population64.7M

Area1,221,037 km²

CurrencySouth African rand (1 USD ≈ 16.43 ZAR)

LanguagesAfrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Calling code+27

Drives on theleft

TimezoneJohannesburg (UTC+2)

Nearest airportLanseria International Airport (HLA), 34 km

Emergency number112

UNESCO sites12

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$6,598 (2025)

Tourist arrivals3.9M (2020)

Climate in Pretoria

Warmest January, coolest June, driest May, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January, March, September.

Monthly climate normals for Pretoria, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.3°C	16.6°C	75mm	360h
February	27.4°C	16°C	89mm	331h
March	26°C	14.3°C	37mm	321h
April	22.2°C	12°C	111mm	267h
May	21.5°C	8.4°C	0mm	318h
June	18.1°C	4.7°C	4mm	294h
July	19.2°C	4.9°C	0mm	321h
August	21.9°C	7°C	3mm	323h
September	26°C	10.6°C	11mm	332h
October	27°C	14.3°C	78mm	316h
November	26.8°C	15.3°C	142mm	322h
December	26.6°C	16.5°C	107mm	332h

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

South Africa is rich in culture, fauna, flora and history. Africa's southernmost country is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 12 official languages, and an equally diverse population and is often known as the "Rainbow Nation".

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cape Floristic Kingdom
Cradle of Humankind
Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites
Khomani Cultural Landscape
Makhonjwa Mountains
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Richtersveld
Robben Island
The Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene occupation sites of South Africa

Upcoming public holidays

November 4, 2026Election Day

December 16, 2026Day of Reconciliation

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

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.