IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas welcomed Saudi Arabia’s new regulation that lifted the ban on direct flights from Indonesia starting December 1, 2021. Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued the policy on December 25.
“Alhamdulillah, before returning from a working visit in Saudi, I received official information that starting at 01: 00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Indonesian citizens are allowed to enter Saudi without having to undergo 14-day quarantine in a third country,” said Yaqut in the Jeddah King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Thursday night, November 25.
He also confirmed that Saudi would no longer require a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or a vaccine booster shot. However, strict health protocols remain in place, including five-day quarantine.
Besides Indonesia, Saudi would also allow direct entry from five countries, viz. Pakistan, Brazil, India, Vietnam, and Egypt.
The ban on direct flights from Indonesia and a number of other countries first took effect in February 2021 and was renewed at the end of August 2021. At the time, Saudi only allowed limited flights from Indonesia for people having a stay permit in the kingdom.
“Hopefully, this will be good news for Indonesian umrah pilgrims who are forced to delay their pilgrimage since February 2021. Hopefully, Indonesian pilgrims can immediately release their longing to go to the Holy Land. But discipline to the health protocol remain mandatory according to Saudi Arabia’s provisions,” Yaqut said.
Read: Indonesians Allowed Entry to Saudi Arabia as of December 1
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