Saudi Arabia will announce the lifting of travel restrictions for citizens and residents traveling to and from Saudi Arabia “later,” a source at the Ministry of Interior announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The latest announcement was in reference to an older statement issued on Sept. 13, 2020, stipulating that the lifting of restrictions on citizens traveling to and from Saudi Arabia, and allowing the opening of ports for all means of transport after Jan. 1, 2021, the Ministry of the Interior would like to clarify that the date for lifting restrictions on two-way traveling and allowing the opening of ports will be announced later,” the source said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The ministry had earlier said that the travel ban was tentatively planned to be lifted on Jan. 1, 2021, and the deadline for lifting the suspension would be announced 30 days prior to that date.
The ministry had also indicated that the Ministry of Health may raise a request to set coronavirus protocols for travelers and airlines.
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) resumed partial operation of international flights on September 15, exempting certain categories of Saudis and expatriates from the temporary travel ban.