COVID-19: Saudi Arabia completes citizens' repatriation from Bahrain

Cairo: Saudi authorities have completed the repatriation of 956 citizens who were stranded in Bahrain amid the global coronavirus pandemic, a Saudi diplomat said.

The repatriation was carried out in response to directives from Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad and follow-up from Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhad, Saudi Ambassador Sultan Bin Ahmed added on his Twitter account.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia started bus trips to ferry its citizens from Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway linking the two countries. The repatriation was part of an evacuation plan that King Salman ordered for Saudis stuck abroad due to a halt to global air travel prompted the Covid-19 outbreak.

In response to the royal directives, the Saudi Foreign Ministry set up an electronic registration platform for Saudis abroad wishing to return home.