Saudi Arabia only opened to international leisure tourism in 2019, and the country is still in the early chapters of what it wants to become as a travel destination. AlUla — an ancient Nabataean city in the northwest that makes Petra look crowded — is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites on earth and barely on the average Australian's radar. If you have been thinking about going, the visa is not the hurdle. The entire application takes around 10 minutes online and approval typically comes within the hour.

Australian passport holders can enter Saudi Arabia either by applying for the tourist e-visa online before departure, or by obtaining a visa on arrival at Saudi international airports. The online e-visa is almost always the better choice — it confirms your authorisation before you board and lets you skip the VOA counter queue at the arrivals hall.

The mandatory health insurance is not optional and cannot be arranged separately — it is bundled into the e-visa fee and issued by a Saudi-approved insurer through the same application. It covers medical emergencies during your stay.

Compare flights to Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), or Dammam (DMM) — most routes from Australia connect through the Middle East or Asia and take roughly 14 to 17 hours in total travel time.

AlUla, Hegra, Diriyah, the Red Sea coast near Jeddah, and the Edge of the World near Riyadh are all worth pre-booking tours for, particularly AlUla where heritage site access is managed and visitor numbers are controlled. Browse things to do in Saudi Arabia. Don't forget to stay connected during your stay in Saudi Arabia with eSIM.

Traveloka is Southeast Asia's leading travel aplikasi. Compare flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, browse hotels across Saudi Arabia's major cities, and pre-book things to do before you land. Check deals on Traveloka for Middle East travel promotions, and download the Traveloka aplikasi to manage your trip in one place.