RIYADH, 28 September – The Council of Ministers announced the creation of long-term and short-term educational visas.
This decision was taken by the weekly session of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, on Tuesday.
The new long-term visa will be granted to students, researchers, and experts, for the purposes of academic study, and research visit.
While the short-term visa will be granted to students, researchers, and visiting trainees, for the purposes of language study, training, participation in short programs and student exchange programs.
The council’s decision said that the educational visa holder is excluded from the requirement related to providing a sponsor.
On domestic affairs, the Cabinet commended the attention paid by the State to the programs and strategies based on the Kingdom’s Vision, especially with regard to the housing needs of citizens and the quality of services being provided to them including continuing to work on facilitating and increasing home ownership rates to reach the target of (70% by 2030).
The Cabinet praised the need to improve the quality of municipal services, enhance the urban landscape and develop infrastructure, in addition to optimizing and sustainable use of natural and water resources.
The Cabinet hailed the Kingdom’s topping the G20 countries in the rate of international tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2022, with an increase of 121% compared to the same period in 2019, according to the latest reports issued by the World Tourism Organization. — Saudi Gazette