Arab News, Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Muharram 26, 1442
Saudi Arabia to ease COVID-19 international travel restrictions on Tuesday
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia will partially lift the suspension
of international flights from Sept. 15, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday,
six months after travel restrictions were imposed because of the coronavirus
pandemic.
The Kingdom will end all restrictions on air, land and sea transport “after Jan.
1” next year, the ministry said, on a specific date to be announced in December.
Meanwhile Gulf state citizens and non-Saudis with “iqama” residency permits or
visit visas may enter the Kingdom from Sept. 15 provided they have tested
negative for the coronavirus in the previous 48 hours.
Other “exceptional categories,” such as government and military employees,
foreign embassy workers and people requiring medical treatment, will also be
allowed entry and exit from Sept. 15.
Young Saudis studying abroad can breathe a sigh of relief, as the exceptions
also cover scholarship students, self-sponsored students, trainees in medical
fellowship programs whose studies or training require travel to other countries.
“After receiving my acceptance letter from a university in Holland while under
lockdown to continue my studiesfor my PhD, I kept my hopes up and waited for the
announcement to come,” said Jawaher Abdulattif, fromJeddah. “The news is a
surprise, to say the least, but a good one. I can finally begin arranging for my
flight and begin my studies properly."
Families separated by the lockdown may also travel to join their loved ones
outside the Kingdom as authorities have included them in humanitarian cases.
Saudis with proof of residency outside the Kingdom may also travel, and there
will be a gradual move toward lifting the Umrah pilgrimage suspension.