Saudi Arabia to reopen borders on May 17: ministry

Saudi Arabia will reopen its land, sea and air borders on May 17, with a suspension on citizens traveling abroad also set to be lifted.

The interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Saudi citizens who have been fully vaccinated or have received at least one shot of the vaccines at least two weeks before travel will be allowed to travel.

People who have recovered from the disease within the last six months will also be allowed to travel.

The Saudi government imposed travel restrictions in March 2020 in efforts to curb further spread of the virus.

These restrictions were eased in July 2020, but citizens were still not allowed to travel. In January, authorities postponed the end of the travel ban for the public and the full reopening of entry points to May 17.

The government also suspended in February the entry of non-citizens from 20 countries with the exception of diplomats and medical practitioners.

By Sunday (May 2), the country has reported 419,348 COVID-9 infections with 6,979 deaths.

(Source: CGTN)