Saudi Arabia has said that it has extended the validity of final exit visas for expatriates until October 31 free of charge.

The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has embarked on the automatic extension of those visas in compliance with directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi news agency SPA has reported.

The extension has been conducted automatically in cooperation with the National Information Centre without the need for expatriates to show up in person at the offices of the General Directorate of Passports. Some 28,884 such visas have been extended so far, according to SPA.

The move is part of the Saudi government’s efforts to handle repercussions of the global new coronavirus pandemic while complying with precautions against the virus.

Thousands of expatriates were stranded in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom suspended international flights in March as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.