Saudi to retain ban on 20 countries including UAE, India and UK when international flights resume in May

Saudi Arabia will continue with its ban on flights from 20 countries when it resumes international travel on May 17, national airline Saudia has said.

The kingdom had imposed the ban in early February to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The 20 countries from where entry will be banned include the UAE, Germany, the US, the UK, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

The ban was also applicable to travellers who have passed through any of the prohibited countries in the 14 days prior to their application to enter the kingdom.

Read: Covid-19: Saudi Arabia bans entry from 20 countries including UAE, UK and India

Taking to Twitter, Saudia clarified in response to an enquiry that the ban will remain in place when the country reopens its borders to international flights in mid May.

“The suspension of all international flights will be lifted as of 1am on Monday, May 17, 2021. It does not apply to countries where the relevant official committee decides to suspend travel to or from due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

اهلاً ضيفنا العزيز،.رفع تعليق جميع الرحلات الدولية اعتباراً (من الساعة الواحدة صباحاً من يوم الإثنين ، 17 مايو 2021م ) (ولا تنطبق على البلدان التي تقرر فيها اللجنة الرسمية المعنية تعليق السفر منها أو إليها بسبب تفشي فيروس كورونا الجديد). نشكر تواصلك

— السعودية | SAUDIA (@Saudi_Airlines) April 21, 2021

Saudi reported 1,028 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections recorded in the country to 408,038.

It also registered 12 additional deaths, with the total toll now at 6,858.

On Wednesday, Oman also announced an indefinite ban the entry of travellers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh starting from 6pm on Saturday, April 24.

The ban extends to travellers who have been in or visited those countries in the 14 days preceding their arrival in the sultanate.

Read: Covid-19: Oman to indefinitely ban travellers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh