Can I Travel to Saudi Arabia? Important Things You Need to Know If You’re Planning to Fly to Saudi Arabia

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Last updated 11 May 2021

After a long period of hiatus due to the raging pandemic, the travel industry is gearing up for a return to small normalcy with borders reopening, easing of quarantine requirements, and the creation of travel bubbles. Travellers around the world are now keen to find out if, when and where they can travel abroad.

There's a renewed interest involving international travels to and from Saudi Arabia as news regarding the lifting of restrictions has been announced by the government. Soon, nationals and residents will once again be free to travel into and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If you are planning to fly internationally, please find more information below.

Who can travel to Saudi Arabia now?

As of now, the kingdom is primarily open only for essential travel, government officials, and repatriated citizens. Other types of passengers allowed to leave the country and return include patients that need to seek treatments abroad, participants in official sports events, people with humanitarian reasons, and students.

Saudi Arabia is planning on reopening international flights on 17 May 2021. Until the aforementioned date, neither citizens, residents nor tourists can enter Saudi Arabia except in exceptional cases. For those qualifying for exceptional circumstances, arrangements can be made for citizens and residents to return to Saudi Arabia.

However, come the reopening date, residents and citizens will be able to travel internationally as well as return to Saudi Arabia once more. It's important to note that the authorities will still implement restrictions to a number of countries listed below.

Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The restriction applies to all travellers who have transited through or stayed in any of the above countries within 14 days before seeking entry to Saudi Arabia. Exceptions to the restriction extend to Saudi citizens, diplomats, health practitioners and their families.

What do I need to prepare before travelling to Saudi Arabia?

Those eligible to enter Saudi Arabia must provide a negative PCR test certificate issued from a verified laboratory not exceeding 72 hours from the time of the test until departure. Those who are unable to provide the certificate will be denied boarding. Only Saudi citizens and children below 8 years of age will be exempt from this requirement.

They will also have to fill out and sign Health Disclaimer Form and hand it over to health control center upon arrival.

Do I need to quarantine upon arriving in Saudi Arabia?

Starting from 20 May, all unvaccinated arrivals will be subjected to a week-long quarantine upon arrival. Those who have not been vaccinated must possess valid health insurance to cover the risks of coronavirus and undergo a PCR test on arrival, and on the seventh day of quarantine.

Excluded from the rule include airline staff and crew, diplomats, vaccinated travellers, health officials, truck divers and marine workers.

Relatives of citizens and unvaccinated domestic workers accompanied by vaccinated residents are also exempt.

You are strongly advised to confirm with a Saudi embassy/mission in your area or the airline before making any travel plan.

Are there flights to Saudi Arabia now?

Yes, since the announcement, there is a heightened interest in international flight schedules to Jeddah and Riyadh, particularly schedules of its national carrier Saudi Airlines and budget airline Flynas. If you are eligible to enter Saudi Arabia, please check Wego to see if there is a flight from your city.

Domestic flights within the country have also restarted for months now, and you can also find flights to Jizan, Dammam, and more on Wego.

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