Saudi Arabia is set to ease its suspension on international flights from 06:00 on Tuesday 15th September, after nearly six months of an air travel ban aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus.
The Kingdom will end some restrictions on air, land and sea transport for its citizens from tomorrow. From 1st January 2021, all restrictions are set to be lifted. Saudi Arabia suspended all international flights in March this year.
Gulf citizens and non-Saudis with valid residency permits or visas will be allowed to enter the Kingdom from Tuesday, provided they are not infected, according to Saudi state media.
Additionally, anyone in "exceptional categories", including Saudi government and military employees, foreign diplomats, students and people needing medical treatment, will also be allowed to enter and exit from Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East region’s largest aviation markets and has so far managed to keep itself afloat with domestic services.
An Interior Ministry source said there are also plans to gradually allow the Umrah Pilgrimage, which was suspended in March.
Just 10,000 people took part in the annual Hajj Pilgrimage in July, as part of Saudi’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Saudi Arabia's hard border closure is just one of the Kingdom's strict COVID control measures, including 24-hour curfews on most towns and cities. The Kingdom has 325,000 infections, the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the Gulf, however the number of recoveries stands at 302,000.