Tourist visas for Americans appear to available, according to this report from Saudi Gazette/Okaz. The article reports that a group entered from Egypt to tour the area around the old Hijaz Railway. It doesn’t say if they had a chance to visit the (relatively) nearby ruins at Madain Saleh.

Credit: Saudi Gazette

38 American tourists discover historic Tabuk
Ali Bidair

TABUK – A group of 38 tourists from the US arrived in Tabuk Friday from Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. The tourist trip has come as part of the ongoing cooperation of the Saudi Supreme Commission for Tourism and local tourism companies.

The American tourists will visit the archaeological heritage sites in Tabuk including the old Hejaz Railway and historic Tabuk Fortress.

This trip is one of 68 scheduled tourist trips from the US and Europe to the Kingdom, said Hasan Al-Harbi, head of a local tourist company.

The government passed a law in 2007 allowing domestic travel agencies to bring in foreign tours.

The Kingdom is trying to develop the country as a tourist destination, first for domestic travelers and later for international ones through the Discover Saudi Arabia program.

Westerners are starting to visit the country in small group tours, a process that has become easier with relaxed visa rules. – Okaz/SG