Photos: Saudis free to travel abroad after more than a year

Saudis keeping social distance wait for their turn to check-in their baggage at the King Khalid International Airport after Saudi authorities lifted the travel ban on its citizens after fourteen months due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Riyadh.

A Saudi woman wearing a face mask and keeping social distance waits for her turn to check in her baggage at the King Khalid International Airport. There was excitement, but no crowds early on Monday morning at Riyadh's international airport as Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on citizens travelling out of the Gulf state without prior permission from authorities.

A Saudi national wearing a face mask gets his passport from a Saudi Immigration officer at the King Khalid International Airport.

Saudi nationals who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot a minimum of two weeks before travel, those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease within the last six months, and those under 18 will be allowed to travel for the first time since March 2020.

"It's a great feeling, thank God, we are happy, especially after the difficult period we and the entire world have suffered," said Bandar Al Nawash, a passenger waiting in the departure lounge of King Khalid International Airport.

A Saudi national shows his vaccination certificate on his smartphone at Bahraini Immigration check-post as he enters Bahrain. Saudi Arabia reopened the King Fahd Causeway road linking the kingdom to Bahrain on Monday, May 17. Ten new lanes have been added to the departure area, taking the total number of lanes up to 27 and 36 lanes in the arrival area, said Duwaihi Al-Sahli, director of King Fahd Causeway Passports in a statement reported by state-run Saudi Press Agency.

There are 13 countries Saudi nationals are still banned from visiting without prior permission, whether through direct or indirect flights, due to COVID-19 risks.

Vehicles of Saudi travellers line up to cross into Bahrain at a border checkpoint on the King Fahad Causeway.

A Bahraini man holding Saudi and Bahraini national flags welcomes Saudis as they enter Bahrain, after Saudi authorities lift the travel ban on its citizens after fourteen months due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, at King Fahad Causeway, Bahrain.

Bahraini Customs personnel check vehicles of Saudi travellers entering Bahrain on the King Fahad Causeway. Saudi Arabia, with a population of some 30 million, reported 825 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking total caseload to 433,094, including 7,162 deaths.