JEDDAH, 2 May 2005 — Organizers of international conferences and exhibitions in Saudi Arabia have complained about the Kingdom’s inflexible visa laws.
The organizers say that the laws make their lives difficult when they want to hold a conference or an exhibition. According to them, it affects not only their business but also the growth of the Saudi economy.
The organizers maintain that a more flexible visa procedure would attract more exhibitions to the Kingdom.
Mohammed Al-Husaini, general manager of Al-Riyadh Exhibitions, said that the major obstacle exhibitors face is getting visas for the international exhibitors and visitors.
“There has to be a more flexible system then what we have at present,” said Al-Husaini, who said that the issue had been brought up in the National Committee for Exhibitions at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He also said that the problem existed as much for tourists as for businessmen; both face a lengthy bureaucratic process in order to get a Saudi visa.
He pointed out that with more flexible visa regulations, Saudi businessmen would have a chance to show their made-in-Saudi Arabia products to international buyers who were able to come to the Kingdom. As things are at present, Saudi businessmen must travel abroad and introduce their products.
Al-Husaini added that a number of countries were using exhibitions as means of promoting their tourism and business sectors.
Current procedures require foreign businessmen to produce a letter from their Saudi sponsors stamped by the chamber of commerce and industry to obtain one-month visas from Saudi diplomatic missions abroad.
Under regulations relaxed in 2002, foreigners who want to study investment opportunities in the Kingdom can obtain a visa if they have an invitation from any chamber of commerce in the country.
