Business travel to AlUla and NEOM
AlUla and NEOM are two of Saudi Arabia’s most talked-about development regions. Pakistani engineers, contractors and service firms visit for project meetings and site work, but both are remote, access is controlled and hotel capacity is limited.
The key facts
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visa | The Saudi business visit visa, requested by your Saudi host or project company. |
| AlUla | In Madinah province, in the north-west. AlUla International Airport (ULH) has domestic and some international flights. |
| NEOM | In Tabuk province, on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. NEOM Bay Airport (NUM) handles flights to the region. |
| Access | Project sites are not open to walk-in visitors. Your host arranges site passes, transport and often accommodation. |
| Working week | Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the weekend. |
| Health | Travellers from Pakistan should carry a polio vaccination certificate. |
Business in AlUla
AlUla is home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, and is being developed for tourism, culture and hospitality under the Royal Commission for AlUla. Business visits involve hospitality, construction, heritage and events work, and AlUla also hosts events and corporate incentive trips.
Flights are less frequent than to the big cities, and many routes connect through Riyadh or Jeddah. Hotels are fewer and many are high-end resorts; for project teams, the host often arranges accommodation.
Business at NEOM
NEOM is a large development region in the far north-west. Visits are almost always for project work: engineering, construction, logistics and services for the developments under way. Access to sites is controlled, and visitors need passes, safety induction and transport arranged by the host or contractor.
Distances in the region are long and services are limited, so confirm the full programme — flights, ground transport, accommodation and site access — before departure. Plan for heat and remote conditions, and carry the PPE and documents your host asks for.
- Host invitation and site pass before travel
- Safety induction and PPE
- Accommodation arranged with the host
- Flights via Riyadh or Jeddah
How to plan a remote-site trip
Start with the host. Ask what the site needs from visitors — passport and visa copies, training certificates, medical forms — and how long approvals take. Book flights only once site access is confirmed. Keep a spare day: weather, flight schedules and site priorities can all change.
How Go Global plans it
Host pack
We ask your host what the visa and site need.
Visa
Business visit visa through the host.
Routing
Flights via Riyadh or Jeddah into ULH or NUM.
On the ground
Transport and accommodation confirmed with the host.
After the trip
One invoice and cost by project.
Questions we are asked
Can I visit NEOM without an invitation?
Project sites are not open to walk-in visitors. Your host or contractor arranges access.
Which airport serves NEOM?
NEOM Bay Airport (NUM). Many flights connect through Riyadh or Jeddah.
Which visa do we need for AlUla or NEOM project work?
A Saudi business visit visa requested by your host for meetings and visits. Paid work on site needs a work visa through a Saudi employer.
Is accommodation easy to find?
Not always. Capacity is limited in both regions, so project hosts often arrange it.
Planning a trip to AlUla or NEOM?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips since 2020, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.