Updated: Saudi Arabia Reportedly Releases List of 14 Countries Not Eligible for Visa on Arrival

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• Saudi Arabia is reportedly enforcing a suspension of its visa-on-arrival facility for passport holders from 14 countries, although conflicting claims persist over whether the restriction is temporary or remains in force beyond the Hajj season
• While some travellers said they were recently denied boarding because of the policy, others, including Bashir Ahmad, argued that the circular being shared was an old Hajj-related directive
• Legit.ng has contacted the Saudi Tourism Centre for clarification, but it had not provided a substantive response at the time of this update

Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended its visa-on-arrival facility for citizens of 14 nations with immediate effect.

Ibironke Khadeejah Quadri, @ronkecarew, a Nigerian based in the UK, stated this on X, noting that one of her persons was affected by the policy.

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If you are planning Umrah from the UK with a UK Visa on a Nigerian Passport, please get Your Tourist Visa or any suitable ones before you travel. VISA ON ARRIVAL is currently suspended for Nigerian passport holders. One of my persons was affected today, so I know it's been enforced. Please don't be caught out," she posted on X.

Ms Quadri shared an internal circular from the immigration authorities which stated that the restriction will remain in place until further notice. Passengers holding standard tourist visas issued directly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia beforehand are exempted from the ban, according to the circular she shared.

Saudi Arabia: 14 countries reportedly affected by visa-on-arrival policy

The official list of prohibited nations spans across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The specific countries affected by the suspension are:

1. Egypt
2. Jordan
3. Tunisia
4. Algeria
5. Morocco
6. Pakistan
7. Bangladesh
8. Nigeria
9. Indonesia
10. Ethiopia
11. Sudan
12. Yemen
13. India
14. Iraq

Conflicting claims trail alleged Saudi Visa-on-Arrival suspension

While Ms Quadri insisted that she personally witnessed the development and said others shared similar experiences, former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, and others disputed the claim.

While some social media users claimed the suspension applied only during the Hajj period, others maintained it remains in effect. Among them was an aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, @Riddwane, who said he was affected by the rule two weeks earlier.

Reacting to Ms Quadri's post, ADEMOLA, @BaakiAdemola, said:

"This post is just for the Hajj period only, please."

However, @Riddwane said:

"No oo… I was personally affected by the rule two weeks ago. The suspension is indefinite."

Nevertheless, Ahmad claimed that the document shared by Ms Quadri was old. He posted:

"The document you shared is an old document that circulated during the Hajj period. Before sharing such claims, take a moment to translate the Arabic text on the document, you’ll see that it has nothing to do with what you’re suggesting."

Ms Quadri replied:

"It's not a lie, you can say you were lucky or they are being selective, I posted from the airport. My person was directly affected and another group with Pakistani passports so it wasn't just Nigerian on the 8am Qatar flight from Manchester on 7/7/2026. I was allowed to board my British passport but chose not to because i couldn't leave them. We will get them a visa and plan another date. So please don't make such a blanket statement again especially as a Muslim It happened to me and not hear say."

Another X user, Aisha Yusuf, @ayeesha0592, added:

"It's true Qatar Airways refused I and my family from boarding on Wednesday 8/7/26 at Heathrow Airport. They said a work visa does not qualify for VOA even though we showed them proof on the Saudi embassy website."

Usman Yusuf, @usi360, added:

"I was at Heathrow on Monday and people were denied Boarding pass because of this policy."

Mustapha Usman, @musyahu, posted:

"@BashirAhmaad is right it was an old circular which is no longer applicable however Saudi Authorities are yet to notify airlines of the withdrawal leading to some airlines denying boarding for some passengers."

Another X user, @El_Imam_caliph, said:

"The Arabic in the document you posted said it’s due to hajj activity and it’s temporary. Probably the airline staff mis-translated it."

To verify Ahmad's and @El_Imam_caliph's claims, Legit.ng used AI to translate the Arabic text. The translation reads:

"Saudi Arabia has suspended visa-on-arrival entry for citizens of 14 countries during the Hajj season, including those travelling on the basis of valid U.S. or Schengen visas."

For further verification, Legit.ng reached out to the Saudi Tourism Centre for clarification on the reported suspension.

In an automated acknowledgement, the centre replied:

"Thank you for contacting the Visitor Care team. We have received your request and will respond to you as soon as we can."

At the time of this update, the Saudi Tourism Centre had yet to provide a substantive response.

Ghana scraps visa requirement for Nigerians

Earlier in a similar development, Legit.ng reported that Ghana announced visa-free entry for all African passport holders, becoming one of the latest countries on the continent to relax border restrictions in a move to improve regional mobility and economic integration.

The Ghana Immigration Service disclosed the development through an official social media post.

The authorities also unveiled a new electronic visa platform designed to simplify entry procedures for travellers heading into the country.

According to the immigration service's X post, the E-Visa system will allow travellers to complete applications online, make secure payments and receive travel authorisation through email before departure.

The policy marks another shift in Africa’s growing push for easier movement between countries. For years, African governments have faced criticism over strict visa rules imposed on fellow Africans despite repeated calls for stronger continental cooperation.

UAE: Countries eligible for visa-free entry in 2026

Legit.ng previously reported that travellers planning a trip to the United Arab Emirates can benefit from one of the region's more accessible entry systems, with citizens of about 70 countries able to enter without securing a visa before departure.

The country's extensive air links also make travel straightforward. Its airports receive flights from destinations across the world, while Dubai International Airport continues to rank among the busiest global aviation hubs

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.