Saudis fly abroad as travel restrictions ease - in pictures

Vaccinated citizens are allowed to leave the kingdom for the first time in more than a year after authorities lifted a ban on international trips

A passenger walks past an image of the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after authorities lifted a ban on international travel. AP Photo

Saudi passenger Hanan Yousef, 35, checks in ahead of a long-awaited trip to Egypt after the travel ban, imposed last year to contain coronavirus infections, was finally lifted in the kingdom. AP Photo

Saudi citizens who have received both doses of the vaccine, or one dose at least 14 days before the date of departure, as well as those who have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months, can fly. AP Photo

Sultan Saeed Al-Shahrani shows his vaccination certificate on his mobile phone at a checkpoint at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Saudis under 18 are allowed to travel, although travellers to Bahrain must be over 18, according to an update reported by the official Saudi Press Agency. AP Photo

Some 385 international flights were scheduled to depart from nine airports across the kingdom on Monday, with social-distancing measures actively in place. AFP

For many, the end of the travel ban means they can visit family living abroad for the first time in more than a year. AFP

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