Saudi Arabia to reopen to fully vaccinated tourists after 17-month Covid closure
Saudi Arabia announced Friday it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated foreign tourists after a 17-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, AFP reported, citing the state news agency.
However, Riyadh did not announce any lifting of restrictions on the umrah, a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time, which usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.
"The Ministry of Tourism announced that the Kingdom will open its doors to foreign tourists, and lift... the suspension of entry for tourist visa holders, starting from August 1," the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It said travellers fully vaccinated with Saudi-approved jabs -- Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson -- will be able to enter the kingdom "without the need for an institutional quarantine period", provided they also have proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within the last 72 hours and register their details with health authorities.
The government has accelerated a nationwide vaccination drive as it moves to revive tourism and host sports and entertainment extravaganzas, all pandemic-hit sectors.
Saudi Arabia has registered more than 523,000 coronavirus cases, with 8,213 deaths.
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:
Newsfeed
16:34
Iran's supreme leader threatens Israel and US with 'crushing response'
Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with “a crushing response” over attacks on Iran and its...
Source Panorama.am
16:15
Armenia offers condolences to Serbia over tragic collapse at railway station
Armenia has extended condolences to Serbia following the tragic collapse at a railway station, which killed at least 14 people and...
Source Panorama.am
16:00
Armenian lifter Alexander Lazaryan crowned junior European champion
Armenian weightlifter Alexander Lazaryan bagged a gold medal at the European Junior and U23 Championships being held in Raszyn, Poland, from...
Source Panorama.am
15:36
Spiritual leaders urged to raise awareness on injustice against Artsakh Armenians ahead of COP29
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI of the Armenian Catholic...
Source Panorama.am
15:00
Showers possible in Yerevan on Sunday
Clear weather is expected in Armenia on Saturday and later next week.
Rain is forecast for some parts of the country on Sunday and Monday,...
Source Panorama.am
14:35
Catholicos Aram I, Ocampo discuss issues related to Artsakh
Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Friday contacted His Holiness Catholicos Aram I by...
Source Panorama.am
13:53
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan reportedly targeted for UFC 311 on January 18
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan rematch is the only fight that makes sense in the lightweight division at the moment. The champ is running...
Source Panorama.am
13:27
Armenian Genocide denial risks new tragedies, MP warns
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan blasted Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s latest genocide remarks as dangerous for Armenia’s...
Source Panorama.am
12:46
Urgent action needed to safeguard integrity of COP29 as fossil fuel influence looms large in Baku, report warns
We are days away from the start of COP29 in Azerbaijan. After previous hosts Egypt and the UAE, many had hoped for a more promising (and less...
Source Panorama.am
12:30
Armenian church marks Feast of All Saints
The Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday celebrates the Feast of All Saints, also called All Saints' Day.
The day...
Source Panorama.am
12:01
Paris Masters: Khachanov through to semi-finals
Russian-Armenian Karen Khachanov won against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 8 seed, 6-2, 6-3 to move into the last four of Paris Masters at...
Source Panorama.am
11:30
Analysis: Aliyev's daughters reportedly control business empire worth over $13 billion
Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East...
Source Panorama.am
11:00
Armenia's Milena Khachatryan wins silver at U23 European Championships
Armenian weightlifter Milena Khachatryan grabbed a silver medal at the European Junior and U23 Championships being held in Raszyn, Poland, from...
Source Panorama.am
17:23
Russia urged to press for release of Armenian prisoners held by Baku
Opposition MP Artsvik Minasyan urged Russia to press for the release of Armenian prisoners, including Artsakh’s military and political...
Source Panorama.am
16:45
Opposition MP: Armenian leadership 'legitimizes' Azeri crimes
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) staged a protest outside the UN office in Yerevan on Friday, demanding immediate action to secure...
Source Panorama.am
16:04
Temperatures to drop in Armenia from Sunday
Clear weather is expected in Armenia on Friday, Saturday and later next week.
Rain and snow are forecast for some parts of the country on...
Source Panorama.am
15:36
FC Urartu joins calls for Armenian football chief's resignation
FC Urartu has joined the Armenian national team and Premier League fan movements and clubs in demanding the resignation of the current...
Source Panorama.am
15:21
Protesters outside UN office demand release of Armenian prisoners in Baku
Protesters gathered outside the UN office in Yerevan on Friday to demand the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and...
Source Panorama.am
14:45
'Brat' is Collins Dictionary's word of the year
Collins Dictionary has declared “brat” – the album title that became a summer-living ideal – its 2024 word of the...
Source Panorama.am
14:21
Armenian Genocide Museum head blasts Mirzoyan's remarks
Historian Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, lambasted Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan for...
Source Panorama.am
13:36
World Youth Chess Championships underway in Brazil
The FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2024 are being held in Florianopolis, Brazil, from October 29 to November 9.
After the third round,...
Source Panorama.am
13:04
Russia says it is unhappy with Turkey's arms supplies to Ukraine
Russia is "surprised" that Turkey continues to supply Ukraine with weapons while trying to act as a mediator in the conflict between...
Source Panorama.am
12:36
Spain floods death toll rises to 158
At least 158 people have died in Spain's worst flooding disaster in generations as rescuers battle odds to find survivors, BBC News...
Source Panorama.am
12:17
Yerevan subway overcrowded in morning rush hour
The Yerevan Metro was overcrowded on Friday morning as passengers struggled to reach work and classes from the Garegin Nzhdeh station.
The...
Source Panorama.am
11:35
Armenia to host UN Biodiversity Conference in 2026
Armenia will host the next UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties in 2026, the Ministry of Envionment reported.
"In 2026,...
Source Panorama.am
11:16
Lifter Emma Poghosyan crowned junior European champion
Armenian weightlifter Emma Poghosyan has clinched a gold medal at the European Junior and U23 Championships being held in Raszyn, Poland,...
Source Panorama.am
11:01
Paris Masters: Khachanov edges out Popyrin to move into quarter-finals
Karen Khachanov moved into the quarter-finals of Paris Masters by defeating Australian Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (5), 6-4 at the Accor...
Source Panorama.am
17:12
Biden bites baby dressed as chicken at Halloween event
U.S. President Joe Biden playfully bit a stable of adorable, dressed-up tots during a Halloween celebration at the White House on...
Source Panorama.am
16:57
Opposition factions seek parliament debate on Armenian prisoners
The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem factions have initiated an emergency parliament debate on a draft statement calling for the release of...
Source Panorama.am
16:15
At least 95 killed in Spain flash floods
Rescue efforts are continuing as Spain endures its worst flooding disaster in decades, with at least 95 people confirmed dead and dozens more...
Source Panorama.am
Videos
17:32 20/02/2023
Artur Vanetsyan: I think you'll see me more often at various events in future
17:35 20/02/2023
Armenian expert: U.S. stance on Karabakh remains unchanged
13:59 09/02/2023
Premature births increase in Artsakh due to stress
12:43 09/01/2023
Snow-covered Yerevan
15:41 15/12/2022
Gegham Stepanyan calls for sanctions against criminal Azerbaijan
11:45 29/11/2022
Memorial plaque honoring Yeghishe Charents inaugurated in Yerevan
