Saudi Arabia Restricts Travel to 25 Countries, Including Pakistan

Saudi Arabia has issued a notification urging its citizens to abstain from visiting 25 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Syria, Nepal, Nigeria, and India.

Reports from local media stress that this advisory is in place to safeguard Saudi citizens from various diseases such as polio, dengue, malaria, cholera, monkeypox, measles, and the persistent threat of COVID-19.

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The directive, released by the Saudi Department of Health, highlights the potential health hazards associated with these infectious diseases. It advises citizens to refrain from traveling, taking into consideration the healthcare systems’ capacities in these countries to manage such health crises.

In a proactive move to prevent the possible spread of these diseases within the kingdom, Saudi Arabia is heightening health screenings for travelers arriving from the specified countries. This strict measure is implemented to minimize the risk of any epidemic outbreak within the country.

This advisory aligns with Saudi Arabia’s rigorous COVID-19 protocols observed during Hajj and Umrah, where participation in these religious pilgrimages was restricted to residents of Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing pandemic.