Saudi Arabia restricts entry points for arrivals from UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain

Saudi Arabia has temporarily restricted the entry points for arrivals from the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain into the country.

The new directive stipulates that travellers from the three GCC states can only be granted entry through the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Press Agency reported.

قررت حكومة المملكة ما يأتي :
أولاً : قصر الدخول إلى المملكة مؤقتًا للقادمين من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، ودولة الكويت، ومملكة البحرين، على المنافذ الجوية.#واس_عام

— واس العام (@SPAregions) March 7, 2020

Entry through land ports between the kingdom and the aforementioned three countries will be restricted to commercial trucks only, given that the Saudi health ministry undertakes all necessary precautions at the assigned airports, as well as pertinent to drivers accompanying trucks at the land ports.

The decision is part of the kingdom’s ongoing efforts to try and curb the spread of the contagion, and protect the health of its citizens and expatriates, according to an official source at the Ministry of Interior.

For Saudi citizens and expatriates who intend to arrive from these three GCC states, this rule would go into effect at 11.55pm on Saturday, March 7.

Those would wish to travel to the kingdom via a new visa or a valid visa – from any country exposed to the risk of the virus as determined by Saudi health authorities – have to present a PCR laboratory test certificate ensuring that they are free of the contagion.

ثانيًا : على جميع من يرغب في القدوم إلى #المملكة بموجب تأشيرة جديدة أو تأشيرة سارية المفعول؛أن يقدم شهادة مخبرية PCR تثبت خلوه من الإصابة بفيروس #كورونا الجديد، ويسري ذلك على من أقام في تلك الدول خلال الـ ( 14 ) يوماً السابقة لدخوله المملكة.#واس_عام

— واس العام (@SPAregions) March 7, 2020

This applies to those who resided in those countries during the (14) days prior to entry into the kingdom,” SPA’s tweet read in part.

Furthermore, the airline must ensure that the certificate is valid, and has been issued within 24 hours of the traveller’s boarding.

The new strain of the coronavirus that originated from China in December last year has morphed into an international contagion, having spread to over 80 countries, infecting over 100,000 worldwide.