World lifting COVID restrictions: 100% capacity in Saudi Arabia from October 17

UAE: The Emirates has led the world’s post-COVID reopening. Dubai welcomed 100,000 passengers in one day (October 11). UAE airlines are also top vaccine couriers for the world. The country, too, currently leads in vaccinations (at 95.23%). And new COVID infections are progressively tapering off: On Sunday (October 17), the UAE has reported 99 new cases — the first time the daily count dropped to less than 100 in several months. For those visiting Expo 2020 Dubai, citizens of more than 50 countries do not require a pre-arranged visa to enter Dubai. Tourists from around the world can also arrange tourist visas. Certain Indian citizens (those with a US visit visa/green card, UK/EU residence visa) are be eligible for a visa on arrival. A scene at the on-going Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs till March 2022. A quick visa/travel guide: https://gn24.ae/c7725c467968000

SAUDI ARABIA: The Kingdom has allowed 100% capacity from October 17 (Sunday), with full-capacity attendance at Mecca and Medina mosques as well as all public gatherings. Airports have resumed operations at full capacity. Among the vaccinated, no masks will be required in open spaces, state news agency SPA stated. Social distancing measures, too, had been lifted. Saudi Arabia has reached a 68% vaccination rate. On Sunday, the Arabic Okaz daily reported that people who are on visit visas can also have access to COVID-19 jabs at designated centres in the Kingdom following registration. A scene at the King Khaled International airport in the capital Riyadh. https://gn24.ae/c78546cd332f000

KUWAIT: On Monday, October 18, 2021, Kuwait’s Cabinet is set to tackle a proposal to resume issuing visas for all commercial activities starting November 1, according to local media. Kuwait is reportedly seeing labour shortages due to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the departure of foreign workers. A Reuters tally shows the country has administered 2,375,455 doses of COVID vaccines so far. The health situation in the country has improved, with much lower rate of COVID-19 infections, a government source told Al Qabas.

OMAN: On September 1, the Foreign Ministry of Oman announced the lifting of travel bans. “The list of countries from which arrivals are prohibited from entering the Sultanate of Oman will no longer apply,” the ministry stated. Those who wish to enter Oman must be aged 18 years and above, and have a two-dose COVID vaccination 14 days before travel. The Sultanate has 8 approved vaccines: AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm, Sinovac or Sputnik. A PCR test is required on arrival, if not holding pre-departure negative PCR report. The certificate must have a QR code or be approved by the authorities in the country of departure. The relaxation came after Oman saw a gradual decline in new COVID-19 cases since the June peak, as well as the increase in vaccination rates. At scene at the Muscat International Airport.

AUSTRALIA: From Thursday, October 21, Melbourne's lockdown will end. Travel curbs within metropolitan Melbourne will be lifted, though people cannot yet travel into regional Victoria. The curfew has been scrapped. Some schools will return on Friday, October 22, the day the state is expected to hit 70% vaccination of all eligible by then. From November 1, Sydney will welcome overseas arrivals without quarantine.

EU: On October 8, the European Union Council updated its list of non-EU countries for which COVID-19 travel restrictions should be lifted. The list includes: Australia, Bahrain (new), Canada, Chile (subject to confirmation of reciprocity), Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, the UAE (new), and Uruguay. Member-states are now advised to remove entry ban on travellers from these countries, including tourists. The council has earlier recommended a common approach towards the borders reopening for travellers. On July 1, the EU Digital COVID Passport was introduced to facilitate the travel process for COVID-vaccinated people fully-immunised with any of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

BELGIUM: Starting Monday, October 11, Belgium has opened up its borders to those who got the complete vaccines or recovered. A certificate stating so must be registered through the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) when traveling to Belgium. Travellers who have not been vaccinated, as well as those who have not yet recovered from COVID-19, are still obliged to take a COVID-19 test. From October 18, travellers will also be allowed to complete the PLF in the CovidSafeBE app. File photo shows a scene at a Belgian care home.

CYPRUS: Cyprus has joined the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate (EDCC) gateway, in which all travellers presenting a valid EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate are free of entry requirements.

DENMARK: From October 9, Denmark has allowed people travelling from Portugal, Sweden, Liechtenstein and several other regions of France and Greece restriction-free entry after they were “green-listed”. Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country requires all travellers from the green-listed countries/regions to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease or recovered from it during the last six months for quarantine-free entry. Photo shows Danish national team supporters at the Euro 2020 championship semifinal match held on July 7, 2021 between the UK and Denmark at Wembley.

ISRAEL: In March 2020, Israel shut down its borders as part of measures to deal with the pandemic. In May 2021, small tour groups were allowed to operate; by August, fresh travel curbs were reimposed due to the spread of the Delta variant. From November 1, 2021, Israel expects to reopen the country to vaccinated tourists, according to a Haaretz report. Israel is also hoping that its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a platform to attract visitors. Israeli musician Ivri Lider performs in front of guests who were required to show a "green passport" in this file photo taken on March 5, 2021 in Tel Aviv.

ITALY: On May 17, Italy scrapped a five-day quarantine for travellers from EU countries. As hospitalisations drop, and with the vaccination rate rising (69.92% fully vaccinated as of October 16, 2021), the COVID-19 situation has significantly improved. Travellers must present the COVID-19 Certificate. Travellers from the “List D” countries are also allowed: Albania, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, UAE, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, UK, South Korea, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, UK, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Travellers must fill in the passenger locator form, undergo COVID test within 72 hours prior to travel, and show a Digital COVID-19 Certificate or an equivalent document. Italians, however, are protesting the so-called “Green Pass”, one of which turned violent over the weekend. Photo shows people participating outside the entrance of the major port of Trieste, on October 15, 2021.

PAKISTAN: The country, which has vaccinated almost 29% of its population (13% partial), has started easing restrictions amid declining COVID-19 cases. From October 1, fully-vaccinated passengers aged 18 and above are allowed to air travel to, from, and within Pakistan. Vaccinated people are allowed to visit shrines, cinemas; one-day closure of businesses also has been waived. Islamabad has eased COVID-19 restrictions in the country. Wedding halls are also allowed to raise the number of guests from 200 to 300 (indoors) and 500 guests (outdoors).

PORTUGAL: The country has reached 86.38% vaccination rate, one of the world’s highest. Since October 1, it allows travellers from the EU, Schengen countries/territories and others, according to visitportugal.com. RT-PCR Test is required 72 hours before boarding, or a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate, or a valid Vaccination or recovery certificate issued by a third country, under a mutually-agreed "safety corridor" agreement.

RUSSIA: As of October 16, 32.40% of the country’s nearly 146 million people are fully vaccinated. Authorities have tried to speed up vaccination with bonuses and other incentives, but uptake has been slow, partly due to widespread vaccine hesitancy, according to media reports. From November 9, 2021, Russia will lift restrictions on air traffic with Austria, Switzerland, Finland, the UAE, Slovenia, Tunisia, Thailand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Iran, The Bahamas, Slovenia, and Oman from November 9, 2021, the country announced on Thursday. File photo shows shows a scene at Moscow International Airport. https://gn24.ae/c7a874b9e5e5000

SINGAPORE: The city-state has expanded its "Vaccinated Travel Lane" (VTL) network, following a pilot with Germany and Brunei. From October 19, 2021, vaccinated tourists from eight more countries — include Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US — will be allowed to travel into the city-state without quarantine. The quarantine-free travel arrangement with South Korea starts November 15. Visitors must test negative for the virus, and will have to take designated flights into the country. Travellers from the above-mentioned countries must be fully-vaccinated to be able to enter Singapore with no quarantine. Singapore Airlines will also expand its VTL network to 14 cities, initially. The airline will operate the flights to the cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris and Rome from October 19, while its services to Seoul will start on November 16.

SPAIN: On Friday, October 15, Spain further lifted movement curbs, allowing friends, partners and family to again be able to say goodbye to their loved ones inside the airport terminal. In general, face masks are still considered a “health requirement” as part of measures for the return to normality. A social distance rule of 1.5 metres remains. As of October 16, 2021, Spain has reported that 79.21% are fully vaccinated among its eligible population. Spain ended travel restrictions and 10-day quarantine requirements for travelers from certain countries from August 24, 2021.

SOUTH KOREA: On October 15, 2021, South Korea has eased coronavirus gathering curbs. The country announced it would lift stringent anti-coronavirus curbs on social gatherings from next week (Monday) as the country prepares to switch to a “living with COVID-19” strategy amid rising vaccination levels. South Korea has vaccinated 78.44% of its population, with 62.54% fully vaccinated.

THAILAND: From October 16, 2021, Bangkok has lifted more COVID-19 restrictions. The night-time curfew has been shortened, more businesses can resume, and meetings can be held. Meanwhile, COVID-19 controls in the “dark-red zone” provinces — including the Thai capital — had been relaxed, Thai health authorities stated. Restaurants and eateries, cinemas, theatres, malls, sport stadiums and public parks can now resume normal opening hours, but no later than 10pm. Thailand reported 10,863 COVID cases on Sunday, with 68 new fatalities. Most of the cases are in Bangkok and the country’s south, Bangkok Post reported. File photo shows mask-wearing pupils catching up with friends at one Bangkok high school. Thailand has reported a 35.8% vaccination rate, according to Our World in Data.

US: From November 8, Foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to travel to the United States, the White Hosue announced Friday. The US has announced it will lift Canada and Mexico land border restrictions in November too. Proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test must be taken within 3 days of travel. Canada reopened its border to fully-vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents in August. https://gn24.ae/c788df1d1758000