The ban on entry from the UAE to Saudi Arabia has been cancelled

 

Eleven countries, including the UAE, have been removed from the list of 20 countries previously banned by the Saudi Interior Ministry.

In addition to the UAE, travelers from Germany, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan can now enter Saudi Arabia.

30-05-2021 Admission to Saudi Arabia from the above 11 countries will be allowed from 1 am on Sunday.

At the same time, institutional quarantine will be mandatory for applicants from travelers from these countries.

The resumption of service from the UAE to Saudi Arabia is likely to benefit Indian expatriates.

Although there is currently no service from India to the UAE, if the service resumes by the middle of next month and it is possible to travel to Saudi Arabia via the UAE, travel costs may be significantly reduced.

Saudi Arabia tourist visas resume soon

 The issuance of tourist visas to Saudi Arabia is likely to resume soon, Bloomberg reported, citing Saudi officials.

According to reports, a unified protocol will be worked out with other countries to enable tourists to visit Saudi Arabia.

The issuance of Saudi tourist visas started in September 2019 and made the process easier.

But in 2020, Saudi Arabia stopped issuing tourist visas due to the expansion of the corona.

Saudi Arabia has liberalized the issuance of tourist visas as part of its efforts to strengthen non-oil sources of income. Officials aim to get 10% of GDP from tourism by 2030

The ministry said the fee would be refunded if the work visa could not be used

 The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources has said that the visa fee will be refunded if the worker is not came in after the work visa is issued.

The ministry was responding to the suspicion of a Saudi citizen who paid a fee of 2,000 riyals to bring in a domestic worker a year and a half ago.

After getting the visa, the corona crisis prevented the worker from coming.

In case the visa is canceled, not used or expired, the money will be returned to the account where the fee was paid. If not, call 19990.

Restrictions on the use of loudspeakers in mosques in Saudi Arabia

 Do not use the loudspeaker outside during prayers. Religious Affairs Department
Proposal to limit loudspeakers in mosques in Saudi Arabia to bank calling and iqamah Do not use the loudspeaker outside during prayers. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs also recommended that the volume be reduced when using loudspeakers. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has recommended that the use of loudspeakers outside mosques be restricted to banking and iqamah. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr. abdulatif, directed the Religious Affairs Offices working in various areas to inform the church staff about this. Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh instructed. The minister suggested that the noise should not exceed one-third of the device and that legal action should be taken against those who violate the new decision. It has been noticed that outdoor loudspeakers are used during prayers in some churches, making it difficult for the elderly, children and the sick to stay in nearby homes and other shelters. This was followed by a new decision by the ministry. The voices of the Imams during the prayers in the mosques make it difficult for those who pray at home. The Minister of Religious Affairs has directed that the voice of the Imam should be heard inside the mosque and that it is not a religious requirement to make it heard by those in the area.

Iqama re-entry visas for those stranded in out of Saudi Arabia will be renewed free of charge

 

Free renewal of iqama and re-entry of workers in countries barred from entering Saudi Arabia. The validity of the visit visa will be extended. Iqama, re-entry and visit visas valid till June 2, 2021 will be extended. This was on the special order of King Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia. The new decision is very comforting for Indian expats. Procedures will be completed in the coming days. The cost will be borne by the Ministry of Finance. The renovation will be completed in phases in collaboration with the National Information Center in the coming days.

Passengers vaccinated from abroad are advised to upload the information in a special form

 This was announced by Saudi Civil Aviation. The authority has also informed the airlines about this. However, this provision does not apply to Saudis and those who have previously stated that they do not require quarantine. This also applies to those coming by land and air.

Those who have completed two doses of the Saudi-approved Pfizer Binotac, Oxford AstraSenica (Kovshield) and Moderna vaccines and a single dose of the Johnson vaccine must register within 14 days. Those who have been vaccinated other than this will not be accepted for registration.

Vaccination information should be provided through a special link in the Muqeem system. link:You can click here to fill up the online form. The vaccine certificate must be certified by the Ministry of Health in that country. Travel should be possible 14 days after vaccination. The form must be completed 72 hours prior to arrival in Saudi Arabia. This certificate will be checked and confirmed when the boarding pass is issued.

Name, date of birth, passport number, citizenship, flight number, date and place of arrival, airline, country of vaccination, type of vaccine and date of first dose should be filled in this form. The authority also said that the vaccine certificate should be printed and taken care of.

Saudi Arabia says it will allow quarantine exemptions for those who receive a single dose of the vaccine

 Saudi Civil Aviation Authority Exemption is available to those who claim to be immune to the Tawakkalna app. At the same time, the return journey to Saudi Arabia was further hampered by the restriction of expats' entry into Bahrain.

expats are allowed to come to Saudi Arabia only after staying for 14 days in countries where Saudi Arabia has not imposed a travel ban. Bahrain was used by most expatriates as a base for this. However, from today until June 3, those without a resident visa will not be allowed to enter Bahrain. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. With this, the return of expatriates to Saudi Arabia is in more crisis.

However, the General Authority for Civil Aviation said that those who received only one dose of Kovid vaccine from Saudi Arabia 14 days later did not need an institutional quarantine when returning to Saudi Arabia. However, this benefit is only available if you return to Saudi Arabia before the expiration date of the immunization recorded on the Tawakkalna app. Also, those who have recovered from Kovid in Saudi Arabia do not need a quarantine if they return to Saudi Arabia before the immunization date of the Tawakkalna app. Foreigners coming to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain or through other borders also do not need a quarantine if they have received a single dose of the vaccine from Saudi Arabia. The new announcement comes as a huge relief to many expatriates who have returned home from Saudi Arabia after receiving a single dose of the vaccine.

At the same time, those who are about to go home after taking a single dose of vaccine should make sure that the status of the Tawakkalna app changes to dark green and shows the immunity date. The Causeway Authority has said that those coming by road from Bahrain without being vaccinated will not be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia. They must fly to Saudi Arabia and enter the Institutional Quarantine.

Explanation of Saudi Javasat for those who did not go back re-entry from home country

 The ban is valid for three years for those applying for an exit re-entry visa and a new visa without returning to Saudi Arabia.
Javasat replied to a question that three years would be counted from the expiry of the re-entry visa.
The authorities' answer to the question of whether the re-entry visa is valid from the time of leaving the country or from the cancellation of the visa.
The three-year ban does not apply to those who do not return on a re-entry visa to the same employer on a new work visa.

Kovid vaccine registration to come to Saudi; Seven conditions are mandatory

 The General Authority for Civil Aviation has stated that seven conditions apply to the registration of covid vaccine recipients coming to Saudi Arabia from abroad.
It is recommended to be vaccinated against any of the approved vaccines in Saudi Arabia. Two doses of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, two doses of the modern vaccine, and one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be given. (Includes Covshield available in India)
Certificates stating that the vaccine has been received must be attested by official health departments, such as the Ministry of Health in the country of origin.
There should be a period of at least 14 days between the date of receipt of the second dose of the double dose vaccine and the first dose of the single dose vaccine and the date of departure for Saudi Arabia.
Those traveling to Saudi Arabia must carry an original vaccine certificate. The information must be submitted to the portal a maximum of 72 hours prior to the Saudi trip.
An affidavit must also be submitted stating that the information provided on the portal is correct. The veracity of this information will be verified when boarding passes are issued and at Saudi airports. Details of persons below the age of eighteen years need not be registered in the portal. Passengers who do not comply with these conditions will be barred from entering Saudi Arabia and will have to bear the legal consequences.

three situations the sponsorship may be changed without the permission of the sponsor

 This is something that many expatriate friends who work in Saudi Arabia often ask about departments that change sponsorship without Kafeel's permission. Kafala cannot be transferred to another sponsor without the official permission of the current sponsor.
However, the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare states that there are three circumstances in which foreign workers may be allowed to move to another sponsor without the permission of the current sponsor.
If the sponsor makes a false complaint that his subordinate has absconded (informing the authorities that he is Hurub, not Hurub), the worker can change the sponsorship without Kafeel's permission.
In addition, Kafala can change without permission even if the work permit and iqama expires and the sponsor does not renew.
Sponsorship can be changed without Kafeel's permission, even in unpaid cases. This benefit is available in case of non-receipt of salary for 3 consecutive months.

Those who have not been vaccinated in Saudi Arabia will not be able to move on from August; The new rules were announced by the Home Ministry

 

Those who have not been vaccinated in Saudi Arabia will not be able to move on from August; The new rules were announced by the Home Ministry

Riyadh: The Ministry of Interior has announced the measures to be taken from August to prevent the corona virus and protect public health. From August 1, 2021, only those who have received the corona vaccine will be allowed to enter and operate in the following areas:

1. Access to any economic, commercial, cultural, recreational and sports activities. 

2. Attend any cultural, scientific, social or recreational event. 

3. Enter any government or private institution for employment or auditing.

4. Enroll in any government or private educational institution. 

5. Use of public transport. Coronavirus vaccination will be mandatory from August.

In addition, the Home Ministry has reminded all nationals and foreigners to use the Tawakkalna app and to follow preventive protocols such as wearing a mask, keeping social distance and disinfecting their hands.

The Ministry of Health says four vaccines have been approved in Saudi Arabia

 

The Ministry of Health says four vaccines have been approved in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Health says there are currently four corona vaccines approved in Saudi Arabia.

The vaccines currently approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health are AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Modena.

The Ministry of Health has warned that if any other vaccines are approved, they will be notified through official channels in a timely manner.

At the same time, 1047 new coronas have been confirmed in Saudi Arabia, with 8078 currently in treatment.

Institutional / home quarantine made mandatory for foreigners coming to Saudi

 

Institutional / home quarantine made mandatory for foreigners coming to Saudi. The order will take effect from May 20. The order was issued by the Saudi Interior Ministry. Those from all countries not on the travel ban list can now leave only after completing the quarantine. The new decision comes as Saudi Arabia moves to lift its ban on international flights from the 17th of this month. It is also a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease when more people come together. The order also exempts Saudi nationals, diplomats, direct staff under the Ministry of Health and truck drivers who move goods across the international border. The Ministry of Health will announce how many days to stay in the quarantine, while people from more than 20 countries, including India, will not be able to enter Saudi Arabia directly. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Expatriates arrive in Saudi Arabia after 14 days in countries where Saudi travel is not currently banned.

International flights will start flying from Saudi Arabia from tomorrow morning

 The Saudi border will be open for international travel on Monday morning. The journey through the country's land, air and ports for Indigenous citizens will start from 1 am on Monday. International borders, which were closed following the discovery of the Kovid epidemic, will be reopened a year later.

Travel permits are issued only to those who have received two doses of the Kovid 19 vaccine, 15 days after receiving one dose, and those who have been cured of the corona virus within six months. In addition, you must have taken an insurance policy approved by the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia before departure. When they return, they must take a PCR test and receive a seven-day quarantine.

At the same time, it is reported that there will be no return flights from these countries due to the ban imposed on 20 countries, including India and the UAE, which were earlier banned by Saudi Arabia. The latest update on the banned countries has not yet been released. However, embassies in various countries have issued instructions to the natives.

Petrol prices rise in Saudi Arabia

 Aramco updated its fuel prices in Saudi Arabia

Petrol price hike in Saudi Arabia The revised rates are sr2.08 for 91 items and sr2.23 for 95 items. Earlier it was 1.99 riyals for 91 and 2.13 riyals for 95.

Quarantine made compulsory for foreigners arriving without vaccination; Effective May 20

 Institutional / home quarantine made mandatory for foreigners coming to Saudi. The order will take effect from May 20. The order was issued by the Saudi Interior Ministry. Those from all countries not on the travel ban list can now leave only after completing the quarantine. The new decision comes as Saudi Arabia moves to lift its ban on international flights from the 17th of this month. It is also a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease when more people come together. The order also exempts Saudi nationals, diplomats, direct employees under the Ministry of Health and truck drivers who move goods across the international border. The Ministry of Health will announce how many days to stay in the quarantine

At the same time, people from more than 20 countries, including India, cannot enter Saudi Arabia directly. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Expatriates arrive in Saudi Arabia after 14 days in countries where Saudi travel is not currently banned.

Saudi citizens will not be barred from going to India

 Saudi Arabia, the national carrier saudia, has said it has not determined which countries will ban Saudi nationals from traveling. If you are going to any country, you have to follow the conditions and procedures applicable in that country. Saudi citizens will not be barred from traveling to any of the 20 countries, including India, which has been banned by relevant Saudi departments. Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from entering the country.

The Interior Ministry has announced that the ban on foreign travel by Saudi nationals will be lifted from 1 am on the 17th of this month and that the maritime, land and air borders will be fully open. Saudi Arabia has asked travelers to ensure the latest information on the terms and guidelines applied by the countries they wish to visit before leaving.

The Home Ministry has said that the travel ban for foreign nationals will be lifted from 1 am on May 17, but not all will be allowed to travel. On January 29, the Interior Ministry announced that Saudi nationals would be allowed to travel abroad from 1 am on May 17 and that contract posts, ports and airports would be fully open. According to Interior Ministry sources, the decision to lift the travel ban on Saudis from 1 am on May 17 has been finalized on the basis of proposals submitted by health departments.

Observation that the Eid will be on Thursday

 Saudi astronomers predict that this year's Eid al-Fitr will be on Thursday, May 13.

The observation that Ramadan 29 is not likely to see a new moon on Tuesday (May 11) is based on the observation that Ramadan 30 will be completed on Wednesday and Shawwal will be one on Thursday.

Renowned astronomer Dr. Khalid Azak has indicated that the moon, which sets on Tuesday morning, will not appear on the horizon after sunset that day.

Saudi Arabia will receive foreign tourists from May 17

 The country will start accepting foreign tourists from the 17th of this month, Saudi Deputy Tourism Minister Princess Haifa said.

Since 2019 we have started accepting foreign tourists. But in Corona times public safety was paramount.
Now we are giving the vaccine. It has reached the point where it is possible to open up land and air borders.

The Princess of Haifa also announced that 93 new companies have entered the Saudi tourism sector.

Earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced that international flights would resume from May 17.

All private and public sector employees in Saudi Arabia are required to be vaccinated

 The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources said that the law requiring all employees of private and public sector companies to receive the corona vaccine will come into effect soon.

The ministry said it would soon announce the effect of the law.
The ministry called on companies to encourage their workers to be vaccinated to stay safe.

Earlier, the corona vaccine was made mandatory only for workers in certain sectors.

Do not enter false information on the Saudi Tawakkalna app and you will face legal action

 The public prosecution has warned that it is a criminal offense to impersonate official apps such as Tawakkalna and Ithamarna to illegally use the services and face legal action. The public prosecution said that those who use the services of the app under the names of others, those who incite it, those who help it and those who conspire to commit a crime will face legal action.

ATM fraud; Two men arrested in Jeddah

 Fraud by helping to withdraw money from ATMs; Two arrested in Jeddah
Security forces in Jeddah have arrested two men for allegedly defrauding elderly people by standing near ATMs. Two Yemeni men in their 30s have been arrested for violating iqama. The gang had been stationed near ATMs in various districts of Jeddah and had been secretly monitoring customers and approaching fake seniors to help them withdraw money.
Defendants, who had been tricking users into using their ATM card PIN numbers, then exchanged the cards and used the original cards to withdraw money. The two were found to have embezzled 49,000 riyals in a similar manner. Makkah Provincial Police said that the case against the accused has been handed over to the Public Prosecution after completing the legal process.

Saudi airports are ready for international flights

 Saudi airports are set to resume services to allow Saudi nationals to enter and exit Saudi Arabia from May 17, officials said.

Civil aviation, including private jets, has been instructed to complete the necessary steps in connection with the resumption of air services.

Boarding will be open to citizens who have received two doses of the corona vaccine and 14 days after the first dose.

No official announcement has been made as to whether service will be resumed to 20 countries, including India, which were previously priced.

Eid holidays announced in Saudi arabia

 The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources has announced a short-term holiday this year for both public and private sector entities.

For public sector entities, the holiday will be from Ramadan 25 Friday (May 7) to Shawwal 5 Monday (May 17).
Ramadan 29 (May 11) will be the last working day for private and non-profit companies on Tuesday. The leave will be 4 days. May 16 will be a working day from Sunday.

The Ministry reminded employers to abide by the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Executive Rules of Employment.

Travel ban on Saudi Arabia lifted; Services will begin this month

 Saudi Arabia to lift ban on international flights on May 17 The ministry also allowed nationals who received the vaccine to travel abroad. But no order has been issued regarding the resumption of services to countries where travel is currently banned.

The home ministry has reiterated that international flights, which have been suspended for more than a year, will resume on the 17th of this month. The ministry said the decision was part of the country's return to normalcy after the Kovid expansion.
Permission was granted to resume services at 7 p.m. Since then, Native nationals have been allowed to travel to foreign countries subject to conditions. Foreign travel is permitted for those who have received two doses of the Covid vaccine and those who have received one dose of the vaccine 14 days later. Also, those who have been cured of Kovid for six months are allowed.

However, the ministry has not yet issued any instructions on whether to start service to the 20 countries where travel bans have been imposed following the current extreme Kovid and to issue travel permits to nationals.

Saudi expats have the facility to issue their own re-entry and exit

 Foreigners in Saudi Arabia have the opportunity to issue their own re-entry and exit in Abshir.

To do this, click on My Services at Electronic Services in Abshir and then click on the Passport option and submit the Visa Request icon.
Re-entry visa must be applied for after paying the visa fee. There is no exit fee. When issued on its own, the visa is only available for a maximum of one month.

One has to wait at least 10 days to apply for a visa. After 10 days, the visa will be approved within the next 5 days.

At the same time, the employer can block the visa application within 10 days of submitting the application. If the employer obstructs, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources will make the final decision on the visa. This applies to both exit and re-entry.
The worker can check the current status of the visa application through Abshir.

Iqama and passport must be valid. The iqama period for re-entrants should be more than three months. The condition is that the vehicles should not be in the name of the final exit applicant.

In the current situation, the sponsor will have to issue the visas if he wants to leave the country immediately or if he needs more than a month's leave.

Applicants for Umrah and visit visas must obtain Kovid insurance - Saudi

 Saudi Arabia urges foreigners arriving on visitor visas to take out a health insurance policy with Kovid treatment coverage. The Saudi Central Bank and the Council for Cooperative Health Insurance have announced that the new rules will apply to those on tourism, visit and Umrah visas. This is in order to provide medical facilities in case of Kovid infection after arrival in Saudi Arabia and to ensure the safety of those in Saudi Arabia.
This insurance policy should cover Kovid treatment, quarantine expenses and hospitalization in case of emergencies.

The Ministry of Health has reminded the people to be careful while resuming the Saudi international flight service

 Abdullah Aziri, Under Secretary, Preventive Health, reminded that with the resumption of international flights from Saudi Arabia, every passenger should inquire into matters relating to the country in which he or she travels.

Vaccination is very important. But not all nationals are exempt from quarantine, assuming they have been vaccinated.
At the same time, some countries will waive the quarantine for those who have been vaccinated. In that case, you do not have to spend a week in those countries just sitting on the quarantine. Aziri said they should inquire with those concerned before the trip to clarify the matter.

Saudi Arabia will resume international flights from the 17th of this month.