Saudi raises visa fees, traffic fines to boost revenues

Riyadh - Cheap oil has slashed the government's revenues from oil exports, saddling it with a budget deficit that totalled nearly $100 billion last year and forcing it to find new ways to raise money.

Saudi Arabia's cabinet, seeking to boost state revenues in an era of low oil prices, approved proposals to raise a range of government fees including visa charges and fines for some traffic violations, the official SPA news agency said on Monday. 
Cheap oil has slashed the government's revenues from oil exports, saddling it with a budget deficit that totalled nearly $100 billion last year and forcing it to find new ways to raise money. 
New visa fees approved by the cabinet include a charge of 8,000 riyals ($2,133) for a two-year multiple entry permit. A three-month multiple exit and re-entry visa will cost 500 riyals; previously, such a visa cost 500 riyals for six months. 
Cabinet raises traffic fines
The cabinet also approved changes to civil aviation fees, SPA said without giving details, and set heavy fines for "drifting", in which thrill-seeking Saudi motorists spin and skid their cars at high speed. 
According to the Saudi Gazette, the Cabinet approved amendment to Article 69 of the Traffic Law so as to make stunt driving a traffic violence for which violators will face the seizure of vehicle for 15 days and a fine of SR20,000 for first violation, the seizure of vehicle for 30 days and a fine of SR40,000 for second violation. In both cases, the violator will be referred to the court to examine carrying out jail term. For third violation, the vehicle will be seized and a fine of SR60,000 will be slapped, and the violator will be referred to the court. The seizure or confiscation of vehicle will not be applicable to rented or stolen vehicles.
The Cabinet also approved amendment to the Article 70 by which anyone who seizes driving license or vehicle registration card (istimara) of another person or gives it on mortgage will face a fine of not less than SR1,000 and not more than SR2,000.
SPA did not say how much money the government expected to raise with the new fees, which could affect business travel to Saudi Arabia and visits by family members of the nearly 10 million foreigners estimated to live and work in the kingdom.

• Saudi Arabia