Saudi customs opens Salwa border crossing with Qatar

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Saudi Arabia said it was opening its land, air and sea borders with Qatar and Saudi Customs opened the Salwa border crossing on Jan. 9, 2021, welcoming travelers. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia said it was opening its land, air and sea borders with Qatar and Saudi Customs opened the Salwa border crossing on Jan. 9, 2021, welcoming travelers. (SPA)
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Updated 09 January 2021
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Saudi customs opens Salwa border crossing with Qatar

  • A COVID-19 health center has also been set up at the Salwa border crossing
  • Saudi Arabia reopened its airspace and land and sea borders with Qatar on Monday

RIYADH: Saudi Customs at the Salwa border crossing with Qatar resumed operations on Saturday, with the port receiving a number of arrivals the moment it opened, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Travelers arriving through the port completed standard customs and health-related procedures that are customary at all entry points into the Kingdom.
Saudi Customs said they began cooperating with all government agencies operating at the port immediately after both countries announced they would open their air, land and sea borders following a historic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in AlUla on Tuesday.
The breakthrough agreement aimed at ending a three-year diplomatic dispute between the Kingdom, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt with Doha.
Multiple Qatari cars were preparing to cross the border on Saturday morning and the first Qatari car entered the port by the afternoon.
Customs authorities said that they also began “preparing and equipping the port from all technical and operational aspects,” and ensured all the “necessary requirements were available to provide distinguished customs services for all travelers.”
The Kingdom issued multiple health measures for the entry of Qatari nationals following the reopening of its border, including compulsory PCR tests and self-isolation for three days, Al Arabiya reported.
A coronavirus health center has also been set up at the Salwa border crossing as both countries have measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus, Al Arabiya said.
Medical teams will be available at the border crossing to test those arriving from Qatar, and people entering the border will sign forms committing to home quarantine measures.


Saudi Arabia to host ‘dialogue’ between southern Yemeni factions

Updated 53 min 2 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia to host ‘dialogue’ between southern Yemeni factions

  • The conference hopes to ‘develop a comprehensive vision’ to fulfill the aspirations of Yemenis

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has invited factions in south Yemen to hold a dialogue in Riyadh to “discuss just solutions to the southern cause.”
The ministry statement said the conference in the Saudi capital had been requested by Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, and the Kingdom urged all factions to participate “to develop a comprehensive vision” that would fulfill the aspirations of the southern people.
The separatist Southern Transitional Council has recently seized territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
Saudi Arabia said the STC action poses a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, and regional stability.
Earlier this week, the military coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out airstrikes targeting a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for southern separatist forces. The shipment arrived in the port of Al-Mukalla on two vessels.
Saudi Arabia has reiterated the only way to bring the southern cause to a resolution is through dialogue.
Gulf and Arab countries on Tuesday offered their support for the internationally recognized government in Yemen.