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Planes preparing for take off at Riyadh King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh airport is home port for Saudi Arabian Airlines. Image Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
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Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that land crossing with the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain will be limited to commercial trucks only.

Arrivals from the three countries are temporarily restricted to entry through airports, as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus, state news agency SPA reported.

Translation of above tweet
The Kingdom’s government decided the following: First: Temporary entry to the Kingdom for those coming from the United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Bahrain to the airports.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior stated that as per the recommendations of the health authorities in Saudi Arabia, the government decided to temporarily restrict entry to the Kingdom for travelers from the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain to the following airports only: 

  • King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
  • King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah
  • King Fahd International Airport in Dammam
Translation of tweet above:
"With regard to the entry of Saudi citizens and residents in the Kingdom coming from the Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, this procedure will take effect at 11:55 pm on Saturday 12 Rajab 1441 AH corresponding to March 7, 2020 AD."

Only commercial trucks will be allowed entry to the country through land border crossings.

The Saudi health ministry said it will take all the necessary precautions at the aforementioned airports and the procedures will also apply to the truck drivers and their companions.

PCR lab test certificate

“All those who wish to come to the Kingdom using a new visa or a pre-existing valid visa from any country where there is risk of the spread of the coronavirus as determined by the Saudi health authorities is required to present a PCR lab test certificate proving that the individual is coronavirus-free.

PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, is a laboratory technique used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA. PCR is very precise and can be used to amplify, or copy, a specific DNA target from a mixture of DNA molecules.

"This applies to anyone who resided in those countries within a time frame of 14 days prior to entering the Kingdom,” SPA cited the official as saying.

“All airlines must ensure that the authenticity of the lab test and ensure that they were issued within 24 hours prior to the passenger boarding the plane.”