• The decision was made in accordance with the preventive and precautionary measures recommended by the Ministry of Health

Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi citizens must have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to be able to travel abroad starting August 9, the state-owned SPA said Monday.

Quoting a source at the Interior Ministry, SPA said the decision was based on new waves of infection globally, new mutations, and the “low efficacy of one vaccination dose against these mutations.”

The decision was also made in accordance with the preventive and precautionary measures recommended by the Ministry of Health, it added.

Those aged under 12 years old will be exempted, provided they submit an approved insurance policy before traveling. Those that recovered from COVID-19 less than 6 months before their travel date will also be exempt, as well as anyone who has recovered and received one vaccine shot.