Saudi Arabia to offer tourist visas for first time

Saudi Arabia said Friday it will offer tourist visas for the first time, opening up the ultra-conservative kingdom to holidaymakers as part of a push to diversify its economy away from oil.

Kick-starting tourism is one of the centrepieces of Crown PrincePrincePrince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform programme to prepare the biggest Arab economy for a post-oil era.

The announcement comes just two weeks after devastating attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure -- blamed by Washington on Iran -- which roiled global energy markets.