Saudi Arabia introduces 7-day paid institutional quarantine for unvaccinated arrivals

All non-citizens who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine and arrive in Saudi Arabia starting Thursday, May 20, will be subjected to seven days of mandatory paid institutional quarantine.

A statement to this effect was issued by an official at the Ministry of Interior, and reported by state-run Saudi Press Agency, on Monday.

Following the directive by the ministry of interior, Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a circular to all airlines operating in the kingdom, stating that the cost of the quarantine will be borne by the travellers and must be included in the ticket prices.

The carriers must enter into agreements with accommodation centers authorized by the Ministry of Tourism to host these passengers for seven days, provided that a Covid-19 test conducted on the sixth day is negative.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia announces the implementation of new procedures for the entry of all travelers to the Kingdom through airports pic.twitter.com/Paj8K9IgnL

— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) May 10, 2021

Also, these travellers must hold a valid health insurance policy to cover the risks that may result from possible Covid-19 infections.

GACA instructed all airlines to carry only those who hold verified Covid-19 negative certificates issued no more than 72 hours before their flight, a directive which is applicable to non-Saudi nationals and those aged 8 and over.

Those who have received all their doses of one of the vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia without the need to quarantine, provided they present an official vaccination certificate before and upon arrival.

Individuals who are exempted from the mandatory institutional quarantine upon arrival include:
• Citizens, their spouses and children, along with domestic workers accompanying them
• Unvaccinated domestic workers accompanying a vaccinated resident
• Fully vaccinated travelers
• Official delegations
• Individuals carrying a diplomatic visa, diplomats and their families residing with them
• Airline, sea crews, and truck drivers and their assistants
• Individuals involved in health supply chains

The ministry of interior official added that people from the previously published list of countries where travel to the kingdom is restricted, will continue to be barred entry into the country.

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