Saudi Arabia’s New Digital Border Entry System to Become Compulsory Within Six Months.
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior introduced a new digital border entry service on Monday, enabling citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other international visitors to complete their entry formalities before reaching the Kingdom’s land border checkpoints.
The service, called “Absher Travel for Visitors,” is accessible through the Absher mobile application and aims to simplify border procedures for incoming travellers.
According to the ministry, the new digital service will become mandatory six months after its official launch.
The newly introduced service allows travellers to submit their personal information and vehicle details, arrange vehicle insurance and complete necessary entry formalities online before arriving at Saudi Arabia’s land border crossings.
By enabling visitors to complete these requirements in advance, the system is designed to minimise paperwork, reduce processing time and make border crossings more convenient.
To access the service, travellers need to open the “Absher Travel for Visitors” section within the Absher application. They must then choose their nationality, provide a mobile phone number, select the type of travel document they will use and indicate their preferred border crossing along with their anticipated arrival date.
Once these initial details are entered, visitors must complete the remaining sections covering traveller information, vehicle registration details and insurance requirements.
The digital initiative was developed through collaboration between several Saudi government entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Insurance Authority, General Directorate of Passports and Public Security.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the launch represents another step towards modernising the Kingdom’s border management system and strengthening its digital government infrastructure.
The initiative is intended to simplify entry procedures, improve coordination between relevant authorities and provide a smoother, more efficient travel experience for GCC nationals and international visitors entering Saudi Arabia through land checkpoints.
