Vaccinated Saudis will be allowed to leave the kingdom for the first time in more than a year on Monday as the country eases a ban on international travel, according to reports.
The Ministry of Interior announced it will open land, sea, and air borders, allowing Saudi citizens to travel outside of the Kingdom beginning May 17, 2021.
The new rules apply to three categories of travelers, according to the U.S. State Department:
- Saudi Citizens who have received both doses of a vaccine or who have had one dose more than 14 days prior to travel as confirmed by the Tawakkalna app.
- Saudi Citizens who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection within the last six months according to the Tawakkalna app.
- Saudi Citizens under the age of 18 years who provide an insurance policy approved by the Saudi Central Bank, that covers the risks of COVID-19 outside Saudi Arabia.
The AP reports that while airports were not yet packed with travelers, those that had planned to travel today and were at the airport were thrilled for the opportunity.
“It’s a great feeling, thank God, we are happy, especially after the difficult period we and the entire world have suffered,” Bandar Al Nawash, a passenger waiting in the departure lounge of King Khalid International Airport, told the AP.
Saudi Arabia has vaccinated close to 11.5 million residents with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, making them eligible to depart the country Monday under the new guidelines. And Saudis who have been stuck abroad under rules to prevent the importation of the Coronavirus into the Kingdom are now able to return. The announcement to resume travel on May 17 does not lift the previous ban on travelers coming from 20 countries – including the United States. Those that do qualify for an exemption to the ban, are still subject to quarantine and testing rules.
The planned opening comes just days after the U.S. CDC announced that fully vaccinated people may generally resume their normal lives in the United States, removing the mask requirement both indoors and outdoors.
More information on the new rules and who may travel to and from Saudi Arabia is available at the U.S. State Department’s website.
