Saudi Arabia India Air Bubble Agreement Approved

by kahaf | Jan 1, 2022 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

India has created an air bubble arrangement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indian air carriers and carriers of Saudi Arabia are now permitted to operate flights between India and Saudi Arabia, and carry the following categories of Guest on such flights:

 From India to Saudi Arabia:

i. Nationals/residents of Saudi Arabia; and Type of Saudi Valid Visa Holders.

ii. Any Indian national or national of Nepal or Bhutan holding a valid visa of Saudi Arabia and destined for Saudi Arabia only. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian/Nepalese/Bhutanese nationals to enter Saudi Arabia before issue of ticket/boarding pass to the Indian/Nepalese /Bhutanese passenger.

From Saudi Arabia to India:

i. Indian nationals or nationals of Nepal or Bhutan in Saudi Arabia;

ii. Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders holding passports of any country. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Non-Indian nationals to enter India with a particular visa category before issuing of ticket/boarding pass to the passenger; and

iii. Saudi Arabian nationals (including diplomats) holding a valid Indian visa as per extant guidelines.

Who is eligible for the air bubble arrangement?

Traffic carried to/from India shall comprise of passengers originating from/destined to Saudi Arabia only, and similarly traffic carried to/from Saudi Arabia shall comprise of passengers originating from/destined to India only.

India to Saudi Arabia flights will resume as per Air Bubble Agreements on a regular basis.

Saudi – India Air Bubble Agreement: What We Know About the Highly Anticipated Travel Arrangement Between this 02 Countries.

When will the Saudi – India bubble take effect?

According to a tweet by the Indian embassy in Riyadh, planned air bubble arrangement will come into effect starting from 01 January 2022.

As per India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, there are currently 34 countries with air bubble arrangements in place with India as follows:

Embassy is pleased to announce air bubble arrangement between India and Saudi Arabia with effect from January 1st, 2022. Details at https://t.co/wKDXdmWMmU@MoCA_GoI @MEAIndia @ksagaca

— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) December 24, 2021

Saudi Travel Guidelines for Institutional Quarantine Packages

by kahaf | Dec 6, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Saudi Travel Guidelines and process How To Book Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages Before Travelling from India or Other Countries

 Updated 03 December 2021

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently re-established its connection to the outside world by way of reopening international flights to and from the Kingdom

Who can travel to Saudi Arabia ?

The below following categories of passengers are permitted to enter Saudi Arabia:

1. Residents and citizen of Saudi Arabia;
2. family members of first-degree Saudi Arabia Citizen;
3. All citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates;
4. Guests with an exit/entry, work, residence or visit visa issued by Saudi Arabia;
5. Guests with a tourist visa issued by Saudi Arabia;
6. Domestic workers of citizens of Saudi Arabia. They must be accompanied by the sponsor;
7. Domestic workers of citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. They must be accompanied by the sponsor or one of the first-degree family members of the sponsor;
8. Passengers with an Umrah visa.

Note : Saudi Iqama & Exit Re Entry must be Valid till you Reach Saudi Arabia.(As per Saudi Local Time)

Category 1:

Guests arriving from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Brazil and Vietnam are allowed to enter without spending 14 days outside of these countries subject to meeting the below-mentioned conditions regardless of their vaccination status outside of Saudi Arabia:

1. Guests must hold a 5-day Saudi Institutional quarantine package to enter Saudi Arabia.
2. Guests must register on Muqeem platform and receive a confirmation before departure.
3. Guests are subject to PCR test upon arrival and during their institutional quarantine period.
4. must have valid documents and follow other entry requirements.

This does not apply to:

1. citizens of Saudi Arabia
2. foreign citizens fully vaccinated in Saudi Arabia

Effective Starts- 4 December 2021, All  arriving Guests from any other country other than Afghanistan, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Union of Comoros, Seychelles, South Africa, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe are allowed to enter subject to meeting the below conditions:

• Received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine taken inside Saudi Arabia.
• Passengers Must have Valid 3-day quarantine package booked to enter Saudi Arabia.
• Passengers must register on Muqeem platform and receive a confirmation before departure.
• passengers are subject to PCR test upon arrival and during their institutional quarantine period.
• must hold valid documents and follow other entry requirements.

Guests who are eligible to enter Saudi Arabia and are required to quarantine on arrival can also book institutional quarantine “Institutional Quarantine facilities approved by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing”. The Quarantine booking confirmation must display a QR code which will be verified at the time of check-in and boarding from Departure Country..

What are the Documents Require to Travel Saudi Arabia. Pre-departure requirements 

All Guests need to present a printed copy of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result certificate issued by an authorised laboratory no more than 72 hours before the last direct flight to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Citizens of Saudi Arabia and children under the age of 8 years are exempt from this requirement.

1. All Guests, including citizens of GCC countries, must carry a valid passport.
2. Guests Must have Valid Saudi Visit Visa
3. Guests Must have Valid Saudi Iqama
4. Guests must have Valid Saudi Exit Re Entry
5. Guests must have Valid Saudi Tourist Visa

Note : All Documents Must be Valid Till you Reach Saudi Arabia ( Saudi Local Time)

1. Exit/entry visas validity for residents of Saudi Arabia can be checked at https://muqeem.sa/#/visa-validity/check.

COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements

1. Guests  with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved in Saudi Arabia. This must be register in Muqeem and receive a confirmation before departure. Saudi Arabia Accept the list of Vaccines are: AstraZeneca (Covishield), AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty).
2. Guests with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated with Janssen at least 14 days before departure.
3. Guests who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by WHO, but not by Saudi Arabia, and received a booster dose of AstraZeneca (Covishield), AstraZeneca (SK Bioscience), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Janssen, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty). They must provide a proof of received vaccinations in accordance with the Ministry of Health and must be registered in the Quddum platform.

Guests with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received the vaccine at least 14 days before arrival must complete “The registration immunization information form” available at https://muqeem.sa/#vaccine-registration/home; and must download the Tawakkalna App in Mobile and submit their personal details before departure. The complete registration confirmation must be presented at check-in.

Medical insurance

All Guests Travelling Saudi Arabia after 01 December 2021 must have Valid medical insurance to cover their treatment of COVID-19. This does not apply to citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

The above Documents requirements are subject to change without prior notice By the Governments . Please check the IATA Travel Centre website before your flight to get the latest updates on the requirements at the country you are travelling from and arriving to.

Book Fly Dubai Airlines Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages

by kahaf | Dec 4, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Book Air India Airlines Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages.

by kahaf | Dec 2, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Booking Started for Air India Airlines Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages.

All non-Saudi Travellers travelling with Air India Airlines (except passengers under the age of 8) are required to provide a mandatory RT-PCR Test (taken 72 hours before departure) to enter the kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA (for all non-Saudi Guests irrespective immune or not) with the exception of passengers under the age of 8yrs and below. All Air India Airways passengers arriving from 01 December 2021 must hold a confirmed institutional quarantine bookings for entering to Saudi Arabia.

Book your Flight Tickets https://www.musafir.travel

Air India Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages Starting @ SAR  2,000/-

Saudi Arabia green list Countries allow direct flights operation

by kahaf | Nov 25, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Saudi Approves Countries in Green List:

Which Countries Are on the Saudi Arabia’s Green List?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lifted its air travel restrictions for few countries  thereby allowing international flights to and from the kingdom to largely resume, this does not mean that all countries now have the options of entering the Kingdom. Travel to Saudi Arabia right now is possible only from countries that are not facing entry suspension or prohibition from Saudi Authority; in other words, countries from the Saudi green list of allowed countries.

The list of countries which are allowed into Saudi Arabia? Can you travel to Saudi Arabia from your country of residence? Here is the latest information on the Saudi Arabia green list 2021.

List of  Saudi Arabia Green list countries?

Saudi Arabia has not officially announced a green list of countries allowed entry into the Kingdom. However, the authorities have detailed a Red list consisting of 10 countries temporarily prevented from entering Saudi Arabia at the moment.

These countries are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, , Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Vietnam.

Except these above countries, For travellers departing from other countries are allowed to enter KSA, the Saudi Arabian government is now issuing tourist visas / eVisas allowing anyone to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for leisure and tourism purposes. Additionally, visa on arrival is now available for list of eligible countries.

Refer to our Saudi Tourist Visa article for more information regarding requirements and eligibility.

Travelling to Saudi Arabia is allowed right now?

Yes, You can travel to Saudi Arabia, you must meet certain requirements extending to vaccinations and testing. Additionally, you must not have travelled to the banned countries mentioned above in the last 14 days.

List of Vaccinations Approved and accepted by Saudi Arabia

Non-Saudi nationals holding the relevant any types of Saudi visas and those eligible for visa on arrival are now allowed to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, if they have completed the required doses of one of the below COVID-19 vaccines approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health.

thus it is necessary, to carry a vaccination certificate  from one of the following:

• 2 doses of Pfizer BioNTech
• 2 doses of Oxford AstraZeneca
• 2 doses of Moderna
• 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson

The Vaccine duration between receiving the first and last dose ( the first dose of a single dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or) must not be less than 14 days Prior to travel.

Those Travellers who have completed two doses of the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines will also be accepted on condition that they have received an additional dose of one of the vaccines approved in the Kingdom mentioned above.

All the Vaccinated travellers, except Saudi citizens and those who are exempt, must fill out  Registration Immunization Information Form before departure.

Saudi Quarantine Requirements and Covid-19 Testing

All the Saudi Travellers must also have successfully registered on the Arrival Registration Platform and are required to provide a negative PCR test certificate issued from a verified laboratory that does not exceed 72 hours from the time the test is undertaken until departing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

all non-Saudi travellers over the age of eight will be subjected to another PCR test Within 24 hours of arrival in Saudia, and proceed to serve a 7-day institutional quarantine. On the 7th day, a second PCR test will be conducted and if the result is negative, they are permitted to leave quarantine on the 8th day.

Fully Vaccinated individuals will be exempted from both, quarantine as well as testing requirements, provided they must show proof of immunization. However, you must note that institutional quarantine will be applied to all arrivals (including Saudi citizens) travelling from Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.

Arrival Registration for Travelling to Saudi Arabia Procedures Rules and Regulations

by kahaf | Nov 23, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Arrival Registration for Travelling to Saudi Arabia Procedures Rules and Regulations.

Updated 22 November 2021

Saudi Arabia : Travel may have resumed in most parts of the world, but it has not become easier. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lifted its air travel restrictions, Allowing international flights to and from the Saudi Arabia to largely resume, but travelling to the country Saudi Arabia  requires passengers to submit certain essential and mandatory documents, complete appropriate registration and clear several pre-entry checks. 

If you are planning to travel to the Saudi Arabia KSA, here are the arrival registration procedures you must be aware of.

Arrival registration in Saudi Arabia.

Apart from Covid testing, visa requirements & quarantine, before flying, all travelers must register their details, including comprehensive vaccination information, on online portal (electronic registration of the vaccine) no less than 72 hours before flying to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The travelers’ information is linked with the Tawakkalna app, which facilitates the completion of the entry procedures for all arrivals to the Kingdom from all the Kingdom’s international Routes.

Muqeem registration.

For Passengers travelling on tourists/visitors

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has mandated registering the data of immunized travelers arriving Saudi Arabia who are non-Saudi citizens and exempted groups before arriving at the Kingdom, through the Muqeem portal.

• Fully vaccinated travelers can register themselves with https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-visitor?type=VaccinatedVisitor
• Non-vaccinated exempted categories of travellers can register through the link: https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-visitor?type=NotVaccinatedVisitor

For residents Passenger travelling to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi citizens & non-Saudi residents (holding Iqama for residents) who are currently outside Saudi Arabia must register according to their vaccination status:

• Non vaccinated residents Passengers must register with https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-resident?type=NotVaccinatedResident.
• Fully vaccinated residents Passengers will register through the link: https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-resident?type=VaccinatedResident.
• Residents who have received one of the vaccines, approved by the Ministry of Health of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, can register via the link: https://eservices.moh.gov.sa/CoronaVaccineRegistration/ in order to get the approval of their vaccination certificates and update their immunization status.

All Residents of Saudi Arabia, who were vaccinated within the country will need to show their immunization status before boarding their flight to Saudi through the health status of the Tawakkalna application or by submitting a report proving immunization in the Kingdom via the Quddum platform.

For medical visitors

All Non-vaccinated medical visitors, entering Saudi Arabia by land or Air are mandated to register themselves through the link https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-visitor?type=MedicalVisitor.

Acknowledgment of the accuracy of the entered information and the correctness of the information will be verified at the entry points, and failure to comply with these requirements makes it open to preventing entry to the Kingdom and the legal consequences.

For all domestic laborer’s arriving with a Saudi citizen

All Domestic laborer’s, entering KSA along with a Saudi citizen can register their details here on the link https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/register-domestic-labor. mandatory for the domestic worker to accompany the Saudi citizen on the same trip.

For Umrah Hajj pilgrims.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that foreign umrah pilgrims will be allowed to partake in the Umrah 2021, Umrah 2022 albeit with several rules and restrictions that should be strictly followed. If you’re looking for the complete guidelines, registration procedures, testing and quarantine measures to be taken for the Comming Hajj 2022 or Umrah 2022, you can find it here  – Umrah 2022 Packages: Everything You Need to Know About This Year’s Pilgrimage

Other entry requirements for

Proof of vaccination.

All arriving guests (except for certain exempted travelers) are mandated to show their proof of vaccination, obtaining one of the vaccines approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The vaccine certificates are required to be certified by official health authorities from the country that provided the vaccination for incoming passengers. 

Duration between receiving the last dose (the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or the first dose of a single dose vaccine) should not be less than 14 days before travelling to  Saudi Arabia. All Guests must carry their vaccine certificates at all times during their stay in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (or proof of health status through applications and accredited programs in the Kingdom).

Tawakkalna app

Tawakkalna app Must download by All arriving passengers before arrival and register upon arrival is mandatory. Once registration and proof of vaccination are complete and ready, log in to the Tawakkalna app and register your immunisation data on the app. 

This Tawakkalana app is available in over more than 75 countries worldwide and Saudi Residents or Saudi visitors can easily upload their vaccine details easily:

• Download the app
• Fill in your personal information, which includes passport number, phone number, date of birth and nationality
• You will receive a verification code via SMS. Input the verification code
• Create a password of 8 or more characters.

Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia Quddum Platform New Arrival Registration system

by kahaf | Nov 23, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia Quddum Platform New Arrival Registration system.

Government of Saudi Arabia has recently implemented The Quddum platform to  facilitate further travellers around the globe looking to enter the Saudi Arabia KSA country.

All you need to know about The Saudi Arabia’s new platform for arrival registration; requirements, Terms and conditions, How to register as well as who can benefit from the services.

What is the Saudi Arabia Quddum platform?

The Quddum is an arrival registration new platform for international inbound travelers to Saudi Arabia arriving for various purposes. This platform was launched with the aim of easing and simplifying entry procedures at various countries border ports.

The Quddum Platform allows those coming to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to register their COVID-19 vaccination status on the platform before their arrival. In the portal, All Passengers and travelers travelling to Saudi Arabia must register and update their vaccine status at least 72 hours before arrival.

Who can register in Quddum Platform ?

The Quddum platform allows the following to register and benefit from its services:

• Residents, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated
• Visitors, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated
• Visitors travelling for treatment/medical purposes
• Domestic workers accompanying Saudi citizens

How to register on Quddum platform?

To register in Saudi Arabia’s Quddum platform, travelers should proceed as follows:

• visit the Absher platform and select ‘Arrival Platform’
• you’d like to change the language to English, click on “English”
• Now select the category most relevant to you. Available categories include vaccinated/non-vaccinated visitors and residents, medical visitors, and domestic workers accompanying a Saudi citizen
• Enter your Iqama number and date of birth or visa number for visitors
• select “Verify”
• Next page, select “Arrival Type” and enter “Flight No” and “Arrival Date”
• Then, enter the “Arrival Destination” and select “Airline” from the drop-down menu
• Enter the captcha code and accept the “Acknowledge Statement” stating the entered information is correct
• Click on “Confirm”
• Your Quddum registration will be complete now

Saudi Quddum Platform Conditions for registration.

To be able to register on the Quddum platform, Both residents and visitors must be able to satisfy the following.

Vaccinated residents Travelling to Saudi Arabia.

• Residents should be outside of Saudi Arabia, at the time of registration,
• The registration should be done within 72 hours before flying/entry into KSA
• The Tawakkalna status should be Immune, Immune by the first dose, Immune by recovery
• Information must be correct. Providing inaccurate information may lead to restrictions in travelling and entering the Kingdom
• If the spouse is also travelling with the resident, then they should be registered as a companion
• Register the children, if any, under 18 years as companions
• Domestic workers should be registered with the travelling resident
• Make sure to download, install and register in the Tawakkalna app before arriving in KSA

Vaccinated visitors Travelling to Saudi Arabia.

• Visitors must have taken the vaccine doses approved by the Saudi health ministry.
• Visitors must have vaccination certificates attested by the health authorities of the traveller’s country
• Visitors should have been vaccinated at least 14 days before travelling to Saudi Arabia
• Visitors should keep original documents upon arriving in the Kingdom
• The registration should be done within 72 hours before departure
• Enter the correct information. Providing inaccurate information may lead to restrictions in travelling and entering the Kingdom
• Make sure to download the Tawakkalna app and properly register.

Saudi Arabia Approved Covishield Vaccine Indians Can Now Travel to KSA Without Institutional Quarantine

by kahaf | Nov 13, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Saudi Arabia Covishield Vaccine Recognizes, Indians Now Can Travel to KSA Without Quarantine
latest Today’s good news for Saudi Arabia Travellers Quarantine Guidlines, Rules & Regulations.
international travel’ saudi arabia recognises covishield indians now can travel to the country without quarantine.

International Travel Latest News Today: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authorities said a PCR Test Report (negative) is mandatory a mandatory requirement in all cases conducted not more than 72 hours before departure.

Now the Indian travellers travelling to saudi Arabia can fly without any quarantine Package and escaping Saudi Quarantine rules.

Riyadh: This would be a big win for Indian travellers, Saudi Arabia on Friday 12 November 2021 recognised Serum Institute of India’s Vaccine Covishield as an approved Covid vaccine for entry into the KSA. With the recognition and approval from Saudi facilitated the fully vaccinated 02 Doses Indian travellers to enter the country without having to undergoing Booking of institutional quarantine.

With this latest Saudi Vaccine approval, Indian Vaccine Covishield has now approved by saudi arabia & joined the list of eight other approved Saudi vaccines list such as Pfizer BioNTech, Comirnaty, Oxford AstraZeneca, SK Bioscience, Vaxzevria, Moderna, Spikevax and Johnson & Johnson.

Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority, Issuing a statement, said that the any Indian travellers who are fully vaccinated by 02 doses with covishield with Saudi-approved vaccines can enter the country without booking institutional quarantine.

Tourism authority further added that the Indian Passengers / travellers who have spent 14 days in a third country that is not on the list of countries where entry is temporarily suspended are permitted as long as they are fully vaccinated. Without confirming Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages.

Anyhow, the authorities have stated that a negative PCR test Report conducted no more than 72 hours before departure is a mandatory requirement in all cases.

This would be like a great win for indian travellers, approval of Covishield is being considered as positive development as the move will pave the way for opening borders to Indian Tourists very soon..

Saudi Tourist visa holders can perform Umrah

by kahaf | Sep 9, 2021 | Saudi Arabia, Uncategorized

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has clarified that foreigners who are coming to Saudi Arabia on tourist visa can perform Umrah after obtaining Umrah permit by completing the procedures on Eatmarna and Tawakkalna applications.

Ministry said that the visit visa holders too could obtain the Umrah permit through completing the registration process on Eatmarna application.

Opening an account on Eatmarna is possible only after updating the visitor’s immune health status on the Tawakkalna application.

“Only those who are immune by taking two doses of coronavirus vaccine or completion of 14 days after taking first dose of the vaccine or recovered after infection of coronavirus are entitled to obtain an Umrah visa,” the ministry said.
It is noteworthy that about 500 Umrah service companies and establishments and more than 6,000 foreign Umrah agents have started receiving vaccinated foreign Umrah pilgrims effective from Aug. 9 (Muharram 1).

The aspiring pilgrims can book Umrah packages and make all the payments through around 30 electronic sites and platforms that are available for reservations worldwide.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently unveiled plans to launch a new mechanism to issue single Umrah visa online.

Ministry affirmed its readiness to receive as many Umrah pilgrims as per the quota that had been agreed upon with various Islamic countries before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.