Saudi Arabia resumes international flights; opens land, sea ports today

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Saudi Arabia will resume international flights and allow entry to its land, and sea ports as of today, Jan. 3 starting 11:00 am under certain measures, the state-owned SPA reported, citing a Ministry of Interior official. 

The Kingdom will allow non-Saudis arriving from the UK and South Africa or any other country, where the new B.1.1.7 COVID strain is detected, as identified by the Ministry of Health, on condition that travelers arriving at the Kingdom will stay for a period of no less than 14 days outside the country where the new strain was detected. Passengers arriving at the Kingdom shall also have negative PCR tests. 

Meanwhile, Saudi citizens and passengers who are allowed to enter into the Kingdom for humanitarian or emergency reasons, coming from countries where the new strain is detected shall stay at home for 14 days. They shall also undergo the PCR tests, the first in 48 hours after arrival and the second on the 13th day of home isolation.  

For passengers arriving from the countries, where the B.1.1.7 strain was detected, they shall stay at home for 7 days and shall also undergo the PCR test on the 6th day of home isolation.  

For remaining countries, passengers arriving to the Kingdom shall be isolated at home for 7 or 3 days, and are required to undergo the PCR test. 

On Dec. 20, 2020, Saudi Arabia decided to temporarily halt international flights – except in emergency cases – for a renewable week over an infectious new strain of the novel coronavirus, Argaam reported.