Saudi Arabia extends ban on air flights, land and sea ports entry for another week

Logo of the ministry of interior

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the extension of the ban imposed on Dec. 21 on international air flights to and from the Kingdom and entry through the country's land and sea ports for another week.

Exceptional cases would be exempted from the entry ban, and non-Saudi citizens are allowed to leave the Kingdom through flights, according to state-run SPA.

The ministry is assessing the current situation and suspension of travel could be further extended, if necessary.

The extension is aimed to give more time for evaluating the situation and to ensure the safety of the health of citizens and residents in the Kingdom.

The ban was imposed a week earlier in light of the new strain of mutated COVID virus that was discovered in some countries.

Meanwhile, cargo shipments and supply chains will be exempted from the ban.