Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Nearly 200 Saudi citizens are expected to return to the Kingdom on July 26 and Aug. 1, said Essam Bin Abed Al-Thaqafi, the Saudi ambassador to Indonesia, on Saturday.

Speaking during a show on Al-Ekhbariya TV, the Saudi ambassador added that there are currently two citizens who are critical after being infected with the COVID-19 variant.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday banned citizens from traveling to Indonesia directly or indirectly over coronavirus concerns.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, the Saudi interior ministry said that the move is based on the government's keenness on the safety of citizens as Indonesia is witnessing a surge in cases of coronavirus new variant.

The interior ministry in the statement called on the citizens, who are already in Indonesia, to exercise caution, stay away from areas witnessing the spread of the virus, follow all precautionary measures and return to the Kingdom at the earliest.