3-year travel ban for Saudis who visit countries on COVID-19 red list

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Saudi authorities on Tuesday issued a warning against traveling to destinations banned due to the pandemic. (Reuters)
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Saudi authorities are banning travel, without prior permission, to and from some countries over concerns about the spread of more-infectious variants of the coronavirus. (AFP)
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Updated 28 July 2021
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3-year travel ban for Saudis who visit countries on COVID-19 red list

  • The Kingdom recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths and 1,379 new cases in past 24 hours
  • Over 1,000 more people recover from the disease in KSA

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday warned against travel to banned destinations amid the pandemic.

The Interior Ministry said citizens who went to countries on the Kingdom’s ban list would be barred from traveling for three years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudis have been barred from traveling to Indonesia over coronavirus concerns. Those currently in the Asian nation have been told to exercise caution and stay away from areas with high infection rates.

Authorities have also banned travel, without prior permission, to and from the UAE, Ethiopia, and Vietnam over concerns about the spread of more infectious variants.

The Kingdom confirmed 10 new COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, raising the total number of fatalities to 8,189.

FASTFACTS

• Saudi Arabia reported 1,379 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

• The Riyadh region records the highest number of cases.

• The death toll rose to 8,189 after 10 more virus-related fatalities.

The Ministry of Health confirmed 1,379 new cases reported in the Kingdom in the previous 24 hours, meaning 520,774 people have now contracted the disease. 

Of the total number of cases, 11,136 remain active and 1,419 in critical condition.

According to the ministry, the highest number of cases were recorded in the capital Riyadh with 273, followed by Makkah with 242, the Eastern Province with 224, Asir recorded 154, and Jazan confirmed 117 cases.

The health ministry also announced that 1,021 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 501,449.

The ministry renewed its call on the public to register to receive the vaccine, and adhere to the measures and abide by instructions.

Saudi Arabia has so far conducted more than 24.57 million PCR tests, with 109,194 carried out in the past 24 hours.

Testing hubs and treatment centers set up throughout the country have dealt with hundreds of thousands of people since the pandemic outbreak.

Taakad centers provide COVID-19 testing for those who show no or only mild symptoms or believe they have come into contact with an infected individual. 

Tetamman clinics offer treatment and advice to those with virus symptoms such as fever, loss of taste and smell, and breathing difficulties.

Appointments for both services can be made via the ministry’s Sehhaty app.

There are 25,317,550 people in the country who have been vaccinated so far, including 1,443,866 who are elderly.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs reopened three mosques in two regions after temporarily evacuating and sterilizing them after three people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of mosques closed and reopened after being sterilized to 1,901 within 171 days.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 195 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 4.18 million.


Saudi Arabia highlights responsible leadership at AI Impact Summit in India

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Saudi Arabia highlights responsible leadership at AI Impact Summit in India

  • Kingdom among more than 70 countries at event discussing cooperation over artificial intelligence

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, participated in a high-level session on harnessing the latest technology for people and the planet during the AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by India. 

The summit brought together representatives from more than 70 countries and 25 international organizations, alongside senior policymakers and technology experts, to discuss the transformative potential of AI and the importance of global cooperation. 

The Saudi delegation was led by SDAIA President Abdullah Alghamdi and included Saudi Ambassador to India Haitham Al-Maliki, as well as officials from relevant government entities. 

The session focused on launching a global network of specialized AI scientific institutions, accelerating research and innovation through advanced technologies, strengthening collaboration among governments and research bodies, and promoting the use of AI to address pressing global challenges. Discussions also focused on leveraging AI to advance the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Abdulrahman Habib, deputy chief strategy officer at SDAIA, stressed the importance of unifying international efforts to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI. He highlighted the need for AI development to deliver sustainable and positive outcomes for societies and economies worldwide. 

Habib also outlined Saudi initiatives, noting the Kingdom’s progress in establishing regulatory frameworks and national policies that balance innovation with effective governance of emerging technologies. He pointed to applied AI models that have improved quality of life, enhanced the efficiency of government services, and contributed to environmental sustainability. 

SDAIA’s participation in the summit reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the global AI agenda and strengthening its presence in international technology forums. The engagement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and innovation at the core of the Kingdom’s long-term development strategy.