Saudi citizens banned from travelling to Indonesia

Direct and indirect travel to Indonesia will remain suspended until the Covid-19 situation has stabilised

Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to Indonesia due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the decision was made to ensure the safety of the kingdom’s citizens and as a result of “the spread of a new mutated strain of the virus, and the health situation in the Republic of Indonesia.”

The official added that direct and indirect travel to Indonesia for Saudi citizens “will remain suspended until the epidemiological situation in the country has stabilised”.

The Ministry advised its citizens in Indonesia to exercise caution, stay away from areas with high instances of the virus and follow all precautionary measures. It also urged them to return to the kingdom at the earliest opportunity.

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The latest surge in cases in Indonesia is reportedly due to the spread of the Delta variant. Several other countries including Vietnam, South Korea and Japan have started intensifying efforts to ensure that their citizens are repatriated from Indonesia as well.

Other GCC countries are also taking steps to protect their citizens and residents from the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Travellers from Indonesia have been banned from entering Oman since 9 July.

In addition, the General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority confirmed earlier this month that the UAE would also indefinitely suspend entry for travellers and transit passengers from Indonesia. The suspension came into effect on 11 July.