Saudi Arabia allows entry of fully vaccinated Indians looking to return

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a relief to those travelling to Saudi Arabia, the country has allowed fully-vaccinated Indian nationals to return without quarantining in a third country based on certain conditions.

According to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s tweet, those who received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to return without the need for quarantine in a third country. It added that the details for implementation of the same are awaited.

In July, Saudi Arabia had stated that it would impose a three-year travel ban on citizens travelling to countries on the kingdom’s ‘red list’, which included India, under its efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus and its new variants.

Earlier this month, however, the kingdom relaxed its rules to allow fully-vaccinated pilgrims from abroad to the Islamic holy city of Mecca as part of the umrah pilgrimage. Vaccinated worshipers from countries that the Middle Eastern kingdom includes on its entry-ban list will have to undergo institutional quarantine upon arrival.

Meanwhile, news agency PTI reported that UAE has temporarily suspended the visa-on-arrival facility for passengers, who are arriving from or have been in India in the past 14 days, according to Etihad Airways.