RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a circular to all airlines operating in the airports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including private aviation, in regard to updating travel procedures to and from the Kingdom.

The circular stipulates that it must be ensured that citizens departing the Kingdom have received the (third) booster dose of the (COVID-19) vaccine for those who have spent (three) months from the time of receiving the second dose, with the exception of the age groups who are under (16) years of age, or from the exempted categories, according to what appears in the (Tawakkalna) application.

GACA clarified in its circular that it must be ensured that all arrivals to the Kingdom, including citizens, regardless of their immunization status, hold a negative certificate for an approved (PCR) examination or for an approved rapid antigen test for the Coronavirus (COVID-19 Antigen Test) for a sample taken within (48) hours from the time of departure to the Kingdom, with the exception of those under (8) years old, taking into account the regulations of countries of arrival related to the covid testing procedures for children.

GACA indicated that citizens whose test results show their infection with the coronavirus are allowed to come to the Kingdom after the period below has passed — without the need for a re-examination:

1- (7) days from the date of taking the positive sample for those who completed receiving the approved vaccine doses in the Kingdom.

2- (10) days from the date of taking the positive sample for those who did not complete receiving the approved vaccine doses in the Kingdom.

GACA confirmed that this updated procedures will go into effect starting from one o'clock in the morning on Wednesday 8 Rajab 1443, corresponding to Feb. 9, 2022. — SG