Saudi Arabia will lift the ban on its citizens travelling abroad beginning on May 17, according to the Saudi Press Agency, citing an official source at the Ministry of Interior.

Vaccinated citizens who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, as well as those who have received one dose, will be allowed to travel if 14 days have passed since their first dose. They will be required to show proof of vaccination on the Tawakkalna app.

Citizens who have recovered from the infection but have not yet received the vaccine are also allowed to travel abroad, as long as the duration of recovery from the infection is less than six months, as confirmed by the Tawakkalna app.

Citizens under the age of 18 are also allowed to travel, provided they submit an insurance policy approved by the Saudi Central Bank prior to departure that covers the risks of Covid-19 treatment while outside the kingdom.

This group of people will be subjected to home quarantine for 7 days upon their return to Saudi Arabia, and a PCR test will be required at the end of the quarantine period. The PCR test is waived for citizens under the age of eight.

The official emphasised the importance of everyone adhering to precautionary and preventive measures, as well as not being complacent in applying health requirements and taking necessary precautions when travelling to high-risk countries. According to the source, all travel updates are subject to continuous review by the Public Health Authority (Weqaya).

Although the travel ban for citizens flying abroad will be lifted in May, Saudi Arabia will maintain its ban on flights from 20 countries when international travel resumes on May 17. The UAE, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey are among the 20 countries from which entry will be prohibited.