Saudi Arabia to open for vaccinated tourists from August 1

Saudi Arabia to open for vaccinated tourists from August 1

Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated foreign tourists from August 1 after a 17-month travel ban due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Vaccinated tourists will be allowed to enter without having to be institutionally quarantined upon providing a negative Covid-19 PCR test and a vaccination certificate," Saudi Arabia'sTourism Ministry said. Accepted vaccines will be Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, the statement added.

The PCR test must be done within the last 72 hours and register the details with health authorities.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced a three-year travel ban and hefty penalties on citizens who visit countries on the kingdom's COVID-19 red list, including India.

The red-list countries include the UAE, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, India and Vietnam. Those who violate the travel ban will be held accountable and slapped with heavy penalties, the source said, adding that those who are found to have violated the instructions would be banned from travelling abroad for three years.

It also urged citizens to exercise caution and stay away from areas where instability prevails or the virus is spreading, and take all precautionary measures regardless of their destination.

As on Tuesday, the kingdom's coronavirus tally stands at 520,774, including 11,136 active cases, while the total death toll was at 8,189.  

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