Saudi Arabia allows direct entry for travelers from Pakistan, other five countries

Cairo: Saudi Arabia will allow direct entry to travelers from Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, and India from Dec. 1, lifting a requirement that they first spend two weeks outside the six countries, state news agency SPA said.

Citing an interior ministry official, the agency said travelers would have to quarantine for five days in government-approved accommodation after arriving, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

In March 2020, Saudi Arabia suspended all international flights following the coronavirus outbreak. The suspension was lifted in May this year but was not applicable to many countries due to the pandemic situation.

To arrive in the kingdom, travelers from countries facing a travel ban had to spend 14 days in a third country unless they had valid residency permits and were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Travelers coming from these countries are still required to spend five days in quarantine upon arrival, regardless of their immunization status outside the kingdom.

The new measures will be effective from 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1.