The General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia has issued a directive to all airlines operating at the airports of the Kingdom regarding the prohibition of direct or indirect travel for citizens to several countries and the suspension of arrivals from these countries. This decision comes in light of the government's concern for the safety of citizens wishing to travel abroad amid the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of a new variant of the virus.
The directive stipulates that airlines must refrain from transporting citizens, either directly or indirectly, to Ethiopia, the UAE, Vietnam, and Afghanistan without prior permission from the relevant authorities, in addition to the continued travel ban to previously announced countries.
The authority indicated that non-citizens from these countries would be barred from arriving unless they have spent 14 days outside of these four countries, along with all previously declared nations.
The authority emphasized in its directive to airlines operating in the Kingdom, including private aviation, the suspension of flights to and from the banned countries and the implementation of institutional quarantine for all arriving individuals, citizens, and others. However, this does not apply to citizens currently in any of these countries who return before 11 PM on Sunday, the 24th of Dhul-Qi'dah 1442 AH, nor does it affect repatriation flights for violators of residence regulations in the Kingdom.
The authority requires airlines operating in the Kingdom to adhere to health safety conditions and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and limit its transmission within the community.
