Dubai’s Emirates to operate special flights to Saudi from March 12-15

Dubai airline Emirates will operate selected flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam from March 12-15 under a special dispensation from the authorities in Saudi Arabia, it announced on Tuesday.

The flights will facilitate the return of travellers whose journeys were disrupted by the recent travel restrictions implemented by the kingdom as a containment response to the Covid-19 outbreak, a statement said.

Saudi announced on Monday that flights to and from nine countries, including the UAE, would be suspended to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. That ban was extended to five additional countries on Tuesday including Oman, France, Germany, Turkey and Spain.

Read: Saudi extends travel bans to 14 countries, including Oman, European nations

On Tuesday the Saudi government said its nationals who wish to return to the kingdom had three days to fly in from the UAE and Bahrain.

Also read: Etihad flights that landed in Saudi on Monday had to return with all non-Saudi nationals

In its statement, Emirates said only Saudi nationals will be allowed to travel on the special flights from Dubai to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Other nationals holding permits for the G20 Summit will be allowed to travel to Riyadh only.

The return Emirates flights from the three Saudi airports will only be open to non-Saudi nationals.

The flight schedules applicable from March 12 – 15 are –

Dubai-Jeddah- Dubai: EK 803 will depart at 4.10pm and arrive at 6.30pm. Return flight EK 804 will depart from the Saudi city at 8.20pm and arrive at 12.30am (next day)

Dubai- Riyadh- Dubai: EK 817 will depart at 6.30pm and arrive at 7.40pm. Return flight EK 818 will depart from the Saudi capital at 9.25pm and arrive at 12.35am (the next day)

Dubai- Dammam- Dubai: EK 825 will depart at 4pm and arrive at 4.30pm. Return flight EK 826 will depart from the Saudi city at 5.55pm and arrive at 8.20pm.