Tourists who have received the Chinese COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinopharm and Sinovac are now permitted to enter Saudi Arabia.
International passengers who have received these Chinese immunizations will, however, be obliged to receive a booster dose of a Saudi-approved vaccine before entering the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia Allows Visitors Vaccinated With Chinese Vaccines
The news comes after the oil-rich Gulf state reopened its doors to tourists on August 1 following a 17-month lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with the condition that visitors be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, or Moderna.
Read more: Saudi Arabia allows entry to Pakistanis inoculated with Chinese vaccine
“Guests who have completed two doses of the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines will be accepted if they have received an additional dose of one of the four vaccines approved in the Kingdom,” the Saudi authorities wrote on their official visa website.
Saudi Arabia has also developed a specialised web page for international travellers to submit their COVID-19 immunisation certificates issued by the issuing countries’ governmental health authorities.
International passengers will still be required to present a negative PCR test report that has been certified by official health authorities in the issuing nations, even if they are fully vaccinated.
Tourists who have been vaccinated do not need to quarantine when they arrive in the Kingdom. Those entering the Kingdom on previously issued tourist visas, on the other hand, will be charged an extra SAR 40 upon arrival to provide insurance for any COVID-19-related medical expenses.
