Saudi to ease international flight constraints from September 15
Saudi Arabia will partially lift its suspension on overseas flights from September 15, the interior ministry said Sunday, half a year following travel curbs were imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The kingdom will end all restrictions on air, terrain and sea transport for Saudi citizens “after January 1” subsequent year, the ministry added, without specifying an exact date.
Gulf residents and non-Saudis with valid residency permits or visas will be allowed to enter the kingdom from September 15 as long as they are not contaminated with the virus, the ministry said in a affirmation published by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Other “exceptional categories”, including government and armed service employees, foreign embassy employees and people requiring medical treatment, will also be allowed from September 15.
The ministry added that Saudi Arabia will down the road announce an idea to gradually permit the umrah pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round umrah on March above fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading to Islam’s holiest cities.
The kingdom also organised a scaled-down hajj in later July, with only up to 10,000 Muslims getting involved in the annual pilgrimage, a long way off from the two 2.5 million who participated this past year.
Saudi Arabia suspended overseas flights on March, leaving various citizens and people stranded overseas.
The kingdom has sought to contain a significant spike in infections, that have now risen to a lot more than 325,000 cases - the highest in the Gulf - and over 4,200 deaths.
In June, Saudi Arabia moved to end a coronavirus curfew across the kingdom and lift restrictions on businesses, including cinemas and additional entertainment venues.
