RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued instructions to all airlines operating in Saudi Arabia’s airports to update the entry mechanism and procedures for residents and visitors arriving from countries not on Saudi Arabia's entry banned list, and to reduce the period of institutional quarantine, as follows:

First: A non-vaccinated individual or who has received only one dose of the approved vaccines in the Kingdom, provided that he submits a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia.

The institutional quarantine shall be for a period of five days. Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken; the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the 5th day of the institutional quarantine. It is a must to adhere to PCRs times as shown on Tawakkalna app. The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

Second: An individual who is immune by a COVID-19 vaccine not approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or who is immune by receiving one of the vaccines approved by the WHO, but not approved in Saudi Arabia, provided that he submits a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia.

The institutional quarantine shall be for a period of five days. Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken; the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the 5th day of the institutional quarantine. It is a must to adhere to PCRs times as shown on Tawakkalna app. The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

GACA stated that dependents are allowed to enter with their immune relatives according to the following:

First: Unvaccinated dependents under 18 years old shall be subject to home quarantine procedures for five days. A PCR test shall be taken on the 5th day. This is in addition to implementing all precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Health.

Second: Institutional quarantine procedures are applied to unvaccinated dependents aged 18 or older. This will be effective as of Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at 12 noon.

GACA stressed that the resident must take the second COVID-19 vaccine in the Kingdom after the end of the institutional quarantine, and whoever is fully immune by vaccines approved by the WHO, but not approved in the Kingdom, currently the Sinopharma vaccine and the Sinovac vaccine, should receive a booster dose from one of the vaccines available in the Kingdom after arrival.

Arriving passengers must register in “Quddum” platform before arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that quarantine procedures will be applied according to the protocols of the Ministry of Health for those who show a positive PCR test during the period of institutional quarantine, and recovery from infection with the coronavirus is not considered as a justification for not applying the institutional quarantine.

GACA pointed to the amendment of the home quarantine procedures for Saudi citizens. The home quarantine is for non-vaccinated individuals for five days. A PCR test shall be taken on the 5th day. This is in addition to implementing all precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Health.

GACA stressed that according to the instructions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, only those who received one of the vaccines approved in Saudi Arabia can enter all places, activities, events and government and private facilities and use public transportation. — SPA