Ambassador of the UK: The Saudi economy is diverse and offers tourism and health investment opportunities

UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton revealed that trade between the two countries amounts to $10 billion a year, noting that the next period will see career opportunities in tourism, medical and health.

Crompton added: The United Kingdom has a considerable investment in Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia has a significant investment in Britain: Investment of the Public Investment Fund in the English Football League club Newcastle United.

Relations between the two countries are historic. Yet, the British Government is interested in the new opportunities offered in the Kingdom by Vision 2030, especially since the Saudi economy is diverse. There are new opportunities in tourism, medicine, health and sports. He hoped that economic cooperation between the two kingdoms would lead to employment opportunities for young Saudis. There is a training programme for Saudi pilots, which provides employment opportunities for graduates, who could receive training in any country in the world such as Britain and America, noting that the project is a joint investment between the two countries in human resources.

It would take two to three hours to obtain a British visa from Saudi Arabia, while its duration would depend on the type of visa. There is a student visa and a tourist visa, which usually last at least two years, while students’ visas depend on the course.

According to the British Ambassador, the number of Saudi students entering Britain is 18,000, while many Saudi tourists visit Britain every year. London is the tourist capital for the Arab world and the Gulf in particular.

He also pointed out that a visit to Britain requires two doses of the vaccine and a PCR test 72 hours before arrival. That entry does not require any institutional or home stone, noting that the conditions applicable to Saudis apply to any visitor and even UK citizens.