Saudi Arabia set to alter visa rules for World Cup

Saudi Arabia will offer multiple-entry visas to fans at the Qatar World Cup as neighbouring Gulf countries look to reap benefits from the competition.

People with a Hayya Card, which is reserved for ticket-holders and used to access Qatar during the tournament, will be able to apply for the electronic visas, the foreign ministry said.

The move comes as Qatar, which has a population of 2.8 million, tries to accommodate an expected 1.2 million visitors during the 20 November to 18 December World Cup, and as Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to attract tourists.

"Holders of the visa will be able to enter and exit the Kingdom several times during the validity of their visa," the ministry said on Twitter.

Deeply conservative Saudi Arabia largely cut itself off from visitors for decades until it started issuing tourist visas in 2019, part of attempts to diversify its oil-reliant economy.

The Gulf power shares a land border with gas-rich Qatar, which is hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East and the first held in winter months.

The Saudi visas will be in effect 10 days before the start of the World Cup and will be valid for 60 days.

Human rights issues remain as Saudi Arabia seeks to integrate itself within sport and grow tourism, with accusations of "sportswashing" by the nation to change its perception, via boxing, Formula 1, golf and soccer, among other sports.

The United States has raised "significant concerns" over a 34-year prison sentence imposed on women's rights activist Salma al-Shehab earlier this month in Saudi Arabia.

"We have raised our significant concerns with Saudi authorities," State Department spokesman Ned Price said of the sentence given to the Saudi woman for following and retweeting dissidents and activists on