At a time when covid-19 cases were growing rapidly in the Middle East, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had banned travellers from the UAE and 20 other countries. This measure was taken to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. On 3 February, Saudi announced a travel ban on countries including the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Japan. However, in a recent press meet, Saudi announced that it will reopen land, sea and air borders on Monday May 17, with strict restrictions in place. And now, Saudia airline has issued guidelines for travellers from UAE to Saudi.
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Before Departure
Guest’s holders of residencies in GCC have to obtain the online entry permit before their traveling to Dubai. GCC citizens traveling to UAE are allowed to enter with their passport only, and no guest will be processed by immigration if holding national ID. Guests with Dubai issued residence visa must obtain GDRFA approval before planning their return trip to Dubai from the link here.
Guests with UAE residence visa from other emirates except Dubai must obtain ICA approval before planning their return trip to UAE from the link here. Tourists with valid visa or visa on arrival are not required to get any approvals from GDRFA or ICA.
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UAE Citizens Need Not Take A PCR Test Before Departure
UAE citizens need not take a PCR test before arriving at DXB/DWC airports, the PCR test will be taken upon arrival only. However, all UAE residents, GCC citizens, and visitors traveling to Dubai required must take a PCR test before departure. Validity period of PCR test should be 72 hours from the time of collecting the sample and departure. The certificate must indicate a negative test result, described either in Arabic or English, issued from a certified lab at the original point of destination. The report must also indicate the time of sample collection “Date & Time” and time of reporting “Result date and Result time”.
On returning to the kingdom, travellers have to quarantine at home for seven days and take a PCR test at the end of the week. Children under 8 are exempt.
Saudi Arabia To Allow Vaccinated Citizens To Travel From 17 May
As per the new law, Saudi citizens who have received both doses of the vaccination, or one shot at least two weeks before the date of departure, will be permitted to travel. In addition, citizens 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.
Furthermore, travellers must present an insurance policy approved by the Central Bank covering the risks of COVID-19 outside the Kingdom before traveling. Citizens will be subjected to home quarantine for seven days after returning to the Kingdom and must undergo a PCR test at the end of the quarantine period, excluding children under the age of 8.
The ministry said all travel-related preventive measures are subject to continuous evaluation by the Public Health Authority, according to developments in the epidemiological situation. The ministry urged travelers to adhere to the procedures and restrictions and to take caution when traveling to high-risk countries where the spread of the disease is high.
Saudi citizens have largely been barred from travel since March 2020, when the kingdom first banned all travel in and out of the country, due to a spike in the cases. It later reopened borders in July 2020, but citizens were not allowed to travel. In January 2021, authorities postponed the end of the travel ban for the public and the full reopening of entry points to May 17.
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First Published: May 06, 2021 12:00 PM