Saudi to impose ban on travellers from red list countries

Citizens who do not abide by new rules to also face legal action and penalties 

Officials in Saudi Arabia have announced that its citizens who travel to red list countries risk being banned from travel for three years upon their return to the kingdom.

Red list countries include the UAE, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, India and Vietnam.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior issued a statement via Twitter advising Saudi nationals not to travel to countries to which it has banned travel.

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The ministry added that citizens who do not abide by these rules are likely to face legal action and heavy penalties, in addition to a three-year travel ban.

Saudi Arabia recently banned travel to Indonesia, and flights to several other countries, including UAE, Ethiopia and Vietnam, are suspended.

Saudi nationals are barred from travelling, directly or indirectly, to these countries, unless they obtain special permission to do so.

Expats who are stranded abroad due to the current travel restrictions will have their residence permits extended until 31 August.