Manama: Saudi Arabia will reopen its air, sea and land borders and lift a ban on international flights from March 31, official news agency SPA reported.
Saudi citizens will be allowed to travel to and from the country, the agency said citing the ministry of interior. The reopening of borders will be in accordance with the preventive measures to stem the spread of the virus.
The latest decision comes as the number of cases in Saudi Arabia has decreased recently, despite some countries facing a second wave of the pandemic and the emergence of a new coronavirus variant.
Saudi Arabia banned international flights on March 16 last year in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The ban was partially lifted on September 15, however, normal air service was not permitted and citizens banned from going abroad.
The country last month halted international flights and suspended entry through its land and seaports for 14 days after a new fast-spreading strain of coronavirus appeared in Britain.
Saudi Arabia launched a three-phase Covid-19 vaccination programme in last month. The kingdom is finalizing arrangements for further vaccine shipments for the immunization of people in vulnerable groups.
The news that travel restrictions will be lifted soon was welcomed by Saudi citizens.
Meanwhile, a Health Ministry spokesman on Saturday said that Saudis leaving the Kingdom after March 31 will not require a COVID-19 vaccine to travel.
There is no condition that states one must be vaccinated to travel, he added. Studies for this are still ongoing, he said.
The country recorded 110 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising the total number of infections to 3,63,692.
