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New arrival procedures if you are travelling from non-banned countries to Saudi Arabia

The new regulations include reducing the period of institutional quarantine to five days…

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued directives regarding updates on the entry procedures for residents and visitors arriving from countries not on Saudi Arabia’s entry banned list and to reduce the period of institutional quarantine.

The new regulations are as follows and will be effective as of Thursday, September 23, at noon.

If you are a non-vaccinated individual or someone who has received only one dose of the approved vaccines in the Kingdom:

  • You need to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia;
  • The institutional quarantine shall be for five days;
  • Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken – the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the fifth day of the institutional quarantine;
  • You must adhere to PCRs times as shown on the Tawakkalna app;
  • The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

If you are an individual who has taken a Covid-19 vaccine not approved in Saudi Arabia:

  • You need to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia;
  • The institutional quarantine shall be for five days;
  • Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken – the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the fifth day of the institutional quarantine;
  • You must adhere to PCRs times as shown on the Tawakkalna app;
  • The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

GACA also issued new procedures for dependents travelling into the country with their immune relatives.

Unvaccinated dependents under 18 years old:

  • They are subject to home quarantine procedures for five days;
  • A PCR test shall be taken on the fifth day, in addition to implementing all precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Health.

Unvaccinated dependents aged 18 or older:

  • Institutional quarantine procedures apply.

Those residing in the Kingdom must also take both the Covid-19 vaccine doses in Saudi Arabia after completing their institutional quarantine.

Those who have received two doses of Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines should obtain a booster dose of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Moderna in the Kingdom after arrival.

All passengers are also required to register on the Quddum platform before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, quarantine procedures will be applied according to the protocols of the Ministry of Health for those who show a positive PCR test during the period of institutional quarantine.

GACA also clarified that recovery from Covid-19 is “not considered as a justification for not applying the institutional quarantine”, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Unvaccinated Saudi citizens arriving in the Kingdom will be subjected to home quarantine for five days. They must also take a PCR test on the fifth day and adhere to the Ministry of Health’s coronavirus precautionary measures.

The authority stressed that only fully vaccinated individuals with a Saudi-approved vaccine could enter government or private facilities, join activities or events, and use public transportation.

Images: Unsplash

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