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Hajj, Umrah Ministry Exempts Immunized with Approved Vaccines from Quarantine

Exclusion of those who are immune from quarantine (SPA)
Exclusion of those who are immune from quarantine (SPA)
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Hajj, Umrah Ministry Exempts Immunized with Approved Vaccines from Quarantine

Exclusion of those who are immune from quarantine (SPA)
Exclusion of those who are immune from quarantine (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has decided that travelers inbound to the Kingdom who have received a full dose of one of the approved vaccines, including Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, are exempt from the need to quarantine.

In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Ministry revealed that “adherence to approved doses is sufficient.”

Nevertheless, people vaccinated with the Chinese-made vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac have to spend three days in institutional quarantine and present a negative PCR certificate 48 hours after isolation.

As for whether new restrictions would be put in place to face the Omicron variant, the Ministry affirmed that measures for incoming pilgrims and visitors from both inside Saudi Arabia and abroad ensure that everyone is fully immunized with one of the approved vaccines in the Kingdom.

Moreover, pilgrims are required to register with the Eatmarna app. Travelers coming from abroad would be required to first register with one of the Qodum or Muqeem platforms.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on Twitter that inoculation registration via the Qodum platform is a must for overseas pilgrims 72 hours before arrival to check if it is compliant with the vaccines recognized in Saudi Arabia.

As for limiting or expanding the number of pilgrims allowed, the Ministry confirmed that such a figure is decided by several relevant authorities that closely monitor coronavirus pandemic developments.

Regarding its strategy for the advent of Islam’s holy month of fasting, Ramadan, the Ministry assured that its plan would depend on intensifying efforts and special programs.

This comes as part of the Ministry’s work to provide the best services for visitors and pilgrims and ensure a healthy and organized atmosphere and the implementation of the highest standards of preventive measures.

Moreover, the Ministry reaffirmed that as soon as the Kingdom approved the list of vaccines, it had rushed to fully immunize all its workers.

In October 2020, Saudi Arabia resumed Umrah after about seven months of suspension due to the global pandemic.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
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Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, announced on Thursday that the Kingdom has provided new financial support to Yemen’s government budget to cover the payment of salaries for state employees, pursuant to directives from the Saudi leadership.

In a post on the social media platform X, Al Jaber said the support comes in addition to the development projects and initiatives announced on Wednesday in several sectors.

These include the provision of petroleum products to operate power plants, aimed at improving the living conditions of the Yemeni people, as well as support for the government’s efforts to implement an economic reform program to achieve financial and economic stability.

The Saudi ambassador also stated that salaries for all military and security forces affiliated with the Supreme Military Committee will be paid by the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, starting on Sunday.

Al Jaber noted that these measures are expected to have a significant impact on society and on Yemen’s economy, which he said will receive substantial support from the Kingdom in the coming period.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Breik said on Thursday that the new and urgent financial support from Saudi Arabia, totaling $90 million, reflects the Kingdom’s sincere fraternal stance and its continued commitment to supporting the Yemeni people, easing their humanitarian and living hardships, strengthening economic and financial stability, and ensuring the regular payment of salaries, which the government considers its highest priority.

In a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), bin Breik affirmed that the government, in full coordination with the Central Bank of Yemen, will immediately begin taking the necessary steps to ensure the swift disbursement of salaries to eligible public sector employees through transparent and responsible mechanisms that enhance confidence in financial and monetary institutions.

The prime minister praised Saudi Arabia’s leading role, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in supporting constitutional legitimacy and backing government efforts at the political, economic, and humanitarian levels. He said the support reflects the depth of fraternal relations and the shared destiny between the two countries.

Bin Breik added that the government continues to implement its economic and financial reform program, improve the efficiency of public resource management, and work with brotherly nations and international partners to improve economic conditions and restore monetary stability.

 

 

 

Gulf

Saudi FM Discusses Developments with EU High Representative, Cypriot Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
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Saudi FM Discusses Developments with EU High Representative, Cypriot Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a joint phone call from High Representative for the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Constantinos Kombos.

During the call, they discussed overall regional and international developments and the efforts being made in this regard.

Cyprus currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

 

 

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Sultan of Oman

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia photo on the right, and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik photo on the left. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia photo on the right, and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik photo on the left. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Sultan of Oman

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia photo on the right, and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik photo on the left. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia photo on the right, and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik photo on the left. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a written message from Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik related to relations between the two brotherly countries.

The message was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji during his meeting on Thursday in Riyadh with Ambassador of Oman to Saudi Arabia Najib Al-Busaidi.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations between the two countries and ways to promote them in various fields. Topics of mutual interest were also discussed.