Saudi Arabia – COVID 19 Travel Updates

Traveling to Saudi Arabia – COVID-19 Updates

Saudi Arabia is a country in Western Asia and is the largest country in the Middle East and the second-largest country in the Arab world. It has had many travelers for:

• Businesses
• Tourism purposes
• The greenery

The spread of COVID-19 changed the travel patterns from the normal routine.

International Flights

Saudi Arabia halted entry or all travelers from 20 various countries. They include Turkey, South Africa, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Sweden, Japan, India, Switzerland, and Egypt.Saudi citizens, healthcare providers and their immediate families are excluded.

The ban includes travelers who toured any of the 20 countries 14 days before traveling to Saudi Arabia. The authority approved international flights to function normally. But only immunized citizens or those who have recovered from coronavirus will travel outside the country. However, the halt of the twenty countries remains.

Any traveler of 8 years and above permitted to enter Saudi must present a negative COVID-19 test, with the results given 72 hours of landing time. As a traveler, you will have to isolate yourself for at least fourteen days, depending on your original country. Furthermore, you must have substantial healthcare coverage in Saudi Arabia for COVID-19 treatment.

Resumption of international flights

On May 17, 2021, international flights resumed, and the airports reopened, reviving international travel into and out of Saudi. Nevertheless, flights from countries where COVID-19 poses a risk to travelers are still halted.

The first outbound flights were registered from Jeddah to Dhaka and from Riyadh to Hyderabad. The Saudi Arabian Airlines said that 153 Riyadh flights and 178 Jeddah flights would fly around thirty various destinations.

However, not everyone can fly abroad from Saudi Arabia. If you have taken the vaccine within two weeks of boarding your flight, you will get permission to travel. Also, if you recover from COVID-19 within the previous six months, you can board international flights.

Moreover, if you are under the age of 18 years, you will need to have a Central Bank approved insurance policy covering the risks outside the country.

Requirements for arrivals in Saudi Arabia

Generally, if you are above eight years old, you will need to present a negative PCR test conducted within three days of departure. Then you will need to undergo a compulsory 7-day institutional quarantine where you will take other PCR tests to confirm your results.

That said, you will have an exemption from the institutional quarantine if you are a Saudi citizen. Also, if you have received a COVId-19 vaccination or a worker in the medical supply chain, you will be exempt. Ministers and their families, airline cabin crew and truck operators will fall in this category. However, you will need to self-isolate at home for at least two weeks. 

Moreover, you will not have to take PRC tests upon landing if you have taken the coronavirus vaccine.

Conclusion

While Saudi is welcoming to visitors, several travel destinations are now open for Saudi Arabian travelers. Some have bent their COVID-19 travel limitations, and some have gotten rid of the limits making it suitable for you to travel.

By the same token, if you want, Biirdee can help you arrange business class and first-class air travel to Saudi Arabia.