Saudi Arabia has decided to grant on-arrival visas to Maldivians.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid made the announcement during a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, adding that Saudi’s decision shows the close ties between incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud.

With this, Maldivians will not require to obtain visas to enter Saudi Arabia when traveling to Saudi there for holiday and Umrah pilgrimages. It will not be eligible for work, educational and health purposes, as well for Hajj pilgrimage which requires a special visa.

In a tweet posted after, Minister Shahid thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman “for graciously facilitating on arrival visa for Maldivians.”

He highlighted that this “momentous development reflective of the special relationship between Maldives and Saudi Arabia.”

Maldives entered visa waiver deals with various countries since this administration took over in November 2018, including with Morocco, Russia, Thailand, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In addition, with the country’s return to the Commonwealth makes it eligible for on-arrival visas in 40 of the member countries.

While the establishment of a Maldivian Consulate was announced in August 2019, Minister Shahid said that the Saudi government gave the required approvals to carry out its work "this week."