3 Countries Saudi Arabia ends travel suspension from them

Written by:
Jumira Hancock
7th September 2021

The directives will take effect from 11am on Wednesday, 8 September 2021…

Saudi Arabia will lift travel restrictions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, and Argentina from 11am tomorrow (Wednesday, September 8).

An official source at the Ministry of Interior said it has decided to lift the suspension of entry to the Kingdom from these countries through the land and sea borders, and airports.

This means residents (iqama holders) and visa holders from the UAE, South Africa or Argentina are allowed direct entry into Saudi Arabia. The decision also allows Saudi citizens to resume travel to and from the three countries.

إيقاف تعليق القدوم إلى المملكة من الإمارات وجنوب إفريقيا والأرجنتين والسماح بسفر المواطنين إليها. pic.twitter.com/eXT84Q8qzq

— وزارة الداخلية (@MOISaudiArabia) September 7, 2021

Fully vaccinated expats can now enter the Kingdom directly

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry’s decision is based on the Kingdom’s evaluation of the Covid-19 situation in these countries.

However, the ministry stressed the importance of adhering to all the precautionary and preventive measures adopted.

The travel ban was initially imposed to curb the spread of a variant strain of coronavirus, but the Kingdom has been relaxing travel restrictions periodically.

The change comes as part of an easing in coronavirus measures in the Kingdom, including allowing direct entry of fully vaccinated residents from countries facing travel ban.

Planning on travelling to Saudi Arabia?

Visitors must have had two doses of either Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, with a certified vaccine certificate.

Those who have had two doses of Sinopharm or Sinovac may enter if they have had one additional dose of one of the four aforementioned vaccines.

All travellers must also provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure to Saudi Arabia.

However, visitors coming from Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, and Vietnam are required to spend 14 days in another country before entering Saudi Arabia.