Saudi Arabia allows direct entry of fully vaccinated expats from countries facing travel ban

Saudi Arabia allows direct entry of fully vaccinated expats from countries facing travel ban

By Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has issued directives to allow direct entry of fully vaccinated expatriates from countries facing travel ban, an official source at the ministry announced on Tuesday. The diplomatic missions of the concerned countries have confirmed to Saudi Gazette the receipt of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) directive in this regard. The diplomatic missions as well as the expatriate community leaders and businessmen hailed the much-awaited decision. The new decision will be applicable only to those foreigners who have a valid residency permit (iqama) and left the Kingdom on exit and reentry visa after taking two doses of vaccine against coronavirus from Saudi Arabia. Currently, the countries facing the travel ban are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The Ministry of Interior source said that the authorities had allowed earlier direct entry to Saudi citizens, as well as to foreign diplomats, health practitioners and their families from the countries facing travel ban. All other segments required to spend 14-day quarantine in a third country before their entry into the Kingdom. Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari confirmed receiving