Saudi Arabia lifts travel ban for citizens to India, Turkey, Ethiopia and Vietnam

Kingdom had introduced strict measures during coronavirus pandemic for travel abroad

A passenger has her temperature checked at Riyadh International Airport. Reuters

Saudi citizens will now be allowed to travel to India, Turkey, Ethiopia and Vietnam, after measures to contain the coronavirus were lifted.

The decision announced by the Ministry of Interior comes only weeks after the country announced that people will no longer be required to wear face masks.

In March, the kingdom lifted the suspension of direct flights to and from 17 countries.

These are: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Comoros, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.

Authorities reminded the public to take a third vaccine booster dose and said that the Tawakkalna Covid-19 app is still needed to enter offices, some public and private buildings, airports and public transport vehicles.

Last summer, the kingdom had warned Saudi nationals who flouted Covid-19 restrictions by travelling to red list countries that they could be barred from travelling for up to three years.

That warning came as the ministry restated its ban on visiting “countries witnessing a surge in cases of Covid-19 and its new variants”.

Countries on the kingdom's red list in 2021 included the UAE, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran — in addition to Turkey, Ethiopia, India and Vietnam.

Saudi Arabia removed the UAE, South Africa and Argentina from its red list last September.

Last November, the kingdom banned flights to and from seven African countries, over fears of coronavirus variant Omicron.