JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on travellers arriving from 11 countries that it imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus but will still require quarantine procedures.
However, it has maintained the ban on inbound travellers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil and Lebanon for an indefinite period.
Travellers from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan, will be allowed entry from Sunday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Travellers arriving from these countries are still required to undergo quarantine procedures upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a notification to the airlines operating in the airports of the kingdom regarding lifting the travel ban on passengers from 11 countries.
The notification stated that legal action shall be taken against the violators, whereas the new order will be taken into effect from May 30. The decision to lift the travel ban was made on the basis of information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) to effectively control the spread of the virus.
In February, Saudi Arabia authorities had banned the entry of travelers from these countries except Saudi nationals, diplomats, health professionals and their families. Later on May 17, the Kingdom had lifted its ban on citizens traveling abroad and opened its land, sea and air borders.
