Saudi Arabia Revokes Quarantine Conditions For Foreigners Who Have Been Vaccinated By COVID-19

Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, Arab Saudi. (Wikimedia Commons/Abdulhadi Basit)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabian authorities announced the lifting of quarantine provisions for foreigners who have received the COVID-19 vaccine upon arrival in the country, Sunday, May 16.

Nevertheless, local authorities still prohibit entry of foreigners from a number of countries that have alarming cases of COVID-19, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

A total of 20 countries are still subject to restrictions on their citizens entering Saudi Arabia. These include the two countries with the highest positive cases and COVID-19 mortality rates in the world, the United States and India. There are also The United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United Arab Emirates.

The civil aviation authority (GACA) said that the revocation of this quarantine provision will come into effect on May 20, for foreigners who have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have contracted COVID-19 and have been declared cured.

Currently, all travelers coming to Saudi Arabia need to be quarantined for seven to 14 days depending on their country of origin, and give a negative PCR test.

"Under the new rules, anyone over the age of eight who is not vaccinated must be quarantined upon arrival in Saudi Arabia for seven days at their own expense as of May 20 and give a negative PCR test on the sixth day of their arrival," GACA said, according to Reuters Monday, May 17.

"They must also provide a valid health insurance policy to cover the potential risks of COVID-19, as well as provide negative PCR test results taken no later than 72 hours before boarding their flight to the kingdom," GACA continued.

Separately, saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry announced Saudi nationals are still prohibited from traveling to 13 countries via direct or indirect flights without prior permission from the authorities, due to the risk of COVID-19.

These countries are: Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of congo, Afghanistan, Belarus and India.

For the record, last February the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suspended entry from 20 countries, with the exception of diplomats, Saudi citizens, medical practitioners and their families to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.