Saudi Arabia to open land, sea, air borders as of May 17: ministry

Kingdom suspended entry for non-citizens from 20 states with exception of diplomats and medical practitioners earlier

RIYADH:

Saudi Arabia will lift its suspension on citizens travelling abroad and open land, sea and air borders on Monday May 17, the interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Saudi citizens who have received two vaccination shots, or one shot at least two weeks prior to travel, those who have recovered from coronavirus within the last six months and those who are under 18 years old will be allowed to travel, the ministry said.

Read more: PIA issues new advisory for inbound travellers from KSA

Saudi citizens have largely been barred from travel since March 2020, when the kingdom first banned all travel in and out of the country as Covid-19 began spreading worldwide.

Its borders reopened in July 2020 but citizens were still not allowed to travel. In January, authorities postponed the end of the travel ban for the public and the full reopening of entry points to May 17.

In February, it suspended entry for non-citizens from 20 states with the exception of diplomats and medical practitioners.