COVID-19: Saudi Arabia warns citizens against travelling to 13 countries

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has warned citizens against traveling to 13 countries without permission due to security and instability, especially with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of new variant strains in some other countries, local media reported.

The 13 countries include Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Congo, India, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela and Yemen.

The move comes as the Kingdom resumed international travel after more than a year due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Safety concern

In a statement on Sunday carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Interior said that the move is out of the Kingdom’s concern for the safety of citizens.

“Citizens will continue to be prevented from traveling, directly or indirectly, to 13 countries without obtaining prior permission from the concerned authorities,” the statement reads.

The ministry also called on citizens wishing to travel to the countries to which travel is permitted to exercise caution and stay away from areas where instability prevails or witnesses the spread of the virus, and to follow all precautionary measures, regardless of their destinations.