Manama: Saudi Arabia decided to partially lift the suspension of international flights from September 15, which will allow expats with valid visas to enter the country, the state news agency SPA said on Sunday.
Public and military sector employees, diplomats and their families, those working for public or non-profit private sector jobs abroad, businessmen, patients who need treatment abroad, those studying abroad as well as people with humanitarian cases, and sports teams will also be permitted travel, it said quoting an interior ministry source.
In addition, Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states as well as expats and their dependents with valid visas including visit visas will be allowed to enter the Kingdom starting from Sept 15 subject to their coronavirus negative certificate. Covid-19 negative test results should be taken within 48 hours before the entry of the Kingdom. Expats who have valid exit and reentry visa, work visa, residency permit (iqama) and visit visas can enter the country as of Sept 15.
The kingdom will remove all travel restrictions on air, land and sea transport for citizens on Jan. 1, 2021, SPA said. The date set for lifting the suspension of all travel restrictions will be announced 30 days before Jan. 1, it said.
Saudi Arabia suspended international flights on March 15 in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The ministry source stated that a plan to lift the suspension of Umrah service will be announced gradually in accordance with the developments related to the pandemic.
Families separated by the lockdown can travel to join their loved ones outside the Kingdom as authorities have included them in humanitarian cases.
The latest moves came as the country continues to show a decline in corona cases. Saudi, the worst-hit country in the GCC, has recorded 3,25,651 COVID-19 cases and 4,268 deaths till date.
The country has confirmed 601 new coronavirus cases, and 28 deaths on Sunday. There were 643 cases recorded on Saturday.
Saudi recorded its highest daily spike of cases on June 19 when 4,301 cases were confirmed over a 24-hour period.
