Saudi Arabia welcomed 24,000 tourists to the kingdom within the first 10 days of a new visa system being unveiled to encourage foreign visitors as part of a plan to expand its economy.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry published a list of the top ten countries that applied for a tourist visa since the system went into effect on September 27.
Topping the list was China with 7,391 visitors, followed by UK with 6,159 and the United States with 2,132.
The kingdom also hosted tourists from Canada, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia, Australia and Kazakhstan.
A vibrant tourism sector is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform programme to prepare the biggest Arab economy for a post-oil era.
Visas can be obtained online or upon arrival. Tourists can visit the kingdom several times within a one-year period, with a 90-day limit per visit.
The new system also allows Muslim visitors to perform Umrah without the need for a Saudi sponsor.
Pilgrimage is the backbone of Prince Mohammed’s economic reform plan as it attracts a huge number of visitors to the kingdom year-round.
Before the new regulations were brought about, pilgrimage visas used to bar travel outside the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
The kingdom hopes that tourism will contribute up to 10 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product by 2030, compared to the three per cent it currently generates.
By 2030 the country aims to attract up to 100 million annual visits.
The kingdom is also set to stage its first international tennis tournament in December.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka and rising star Daniil Medvedev are two big names already signed up to appear in the eight-player hard-court event.
"Hosting world-class international tennis in Saudi Arabia for the very first time is another watershed moment for the kingdom," said Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki, chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia.
The tournament will be staged in Diriyah, on the outskirts of Riyadh.
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
