Saudi Arabia: Umrah Performers Must Present Negative PCR Test

General view of Kaaba as Muslim pilgrims wear face masks and keep social distancing during the annual Hajj (SPA)
General view of Kaaba as Muslim pilgrims wear face masks and keep social distancing during the annual Hajj (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia: Umrah Performers Must Present Negative PCR Test

General view of Kaaba as Muslim pilgrims wear face masks and keep social distancing during the annual Hajj (SPA)
General view of Kaaba as Muslim pilgrims wear face masks and keep social distancing during the annual Hajj (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah updated the procedures for entering Saudi Arabia for Umrah performers and visitors to ensure their health and safety.

The Ministry explained that based on reports of the competent authorities regarding the measures taken by the Kingdom to counter the coronavirus and its variants, Umrah performers must present a negative certificate for an approved (PCR) test or an examination for the rapid antigens of the COVID-19 Antigen Test of a sample taken within 48 hours of departure to the Kingdom.

The new measure applies to all, “regardless of their vaccination status, starting next Wednesday,” the Ministry said.

Furthermore, all Saudi citizens must take a coronavirus vaccine booster dose to travel outside the Kingdom, starting from February 9.

The Interior Ministry said that all passengers arriving at the Kingdom, including residents and citizens, must also have taken the booster shot.

The Ministry issued a statement explaining that the new measures come as per the constant follow-up to the epidemiological situation locally and globally and any epidemiological risks.

It is also based on the recommendations of the competent authorities regarding the measures taken by the Kingdom to counter the pandemic and preserve public health.

Saudi Arabia completed implementing the same procedures inside the Kingdom when it announced that booster shot is crucial for citizens and residents to enter public places.

A third jab is required to be considered “immune” in the country’s contact-tracing Tawakkalna application.

Meanwhile, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a circular to all airlines operating at Saudi airports, including private aviation, concerning updating travel procedures to and from the Kingdom.

The circular stipulates that citizens departing the Kingdom must receive the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine for those who have spent three months from the time of receiving the second dose, except the age groups who are under 16, or from the exempted categories, according to Tawakkalna.

GACA clarified that it must be ensured that all arrivals to the Kingdom, including citizens, regardless of their immunization status, hold a negative certificate for an approved (PCR) examination or for an approved rapid antigen test for the coronavirus for a sample taken within 48 hours from the time of departure to the Kingdom, except those under 18.

The Authority indicated that citizens whose test results show their infection with the coronavirus are allowed to come to the Kingdom after the period below has passed - without the need for a re-examination: seven days from taking the positive sample for those who received the approved vaccines in the Kingdom, and ten days from taking the positive sample for those who did not receive the approved vaccines.

The Authority indicated that these new requirements would enter into effect Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Saudi Arabia has administered over 58,672,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine through more than 587 vaccination centers in all regions.

The number of those who received a single dose reached more than 25,674,000 people, while those who received the two doses reached over 23,817,000 people, and more than 9,000,000 individuals have received the booster shot.

For its part, the Ministry of Health announced 3,747 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of people who have contracted the virus to 712,644 persons, while 1,090 cases remain in critical condition.

The Ministry indicated that 4,083 patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries in the Kingdom to 670,780.

It confirmed three coronavirus-related deaths, raising the total of fatalities to 8,957.



Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
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Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held official talks on Wednesday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the latest regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them. The leaders also discussed a range of issues of common interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where Subianto was welcomed with an official reception ceremony. During their discussions, the two sides reviewed the state of relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across various sectors.

The visit also marked the convening of the first session of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, where a number of topics on the council’s agenda were addressed. At the conclusion, the two leaders signed the official record of the proceedings.

President Subianto arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a state visit to the Kingdom. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, who served as the accompanying minister; and other senior officials.

The Indonesian president’s visit comes amid significant regional developments, highlighting the importance of close coordination between Riyadh and Jakarta to reinforce regional and global security and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a common vision on resolving conflicts through peaceful, diplomatic means and dialogue. Both countries emphasize the need to create conditions that promote stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have steadily grown over nearly eight decades, encompassing political, economic, and cultural cooperation. The two countries are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and play important roles within the G20. They are also bound by longstanding and close ties between their peoples.

Formal relations date back to the era of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, when Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to recognize Indonesia’s independence. This early recognition paved the way for the exchange of diplomatic missions, which later developed into full embassies. Indonesia opened its first embassy in Jeddah in 1948, while Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s largest trading partner in the region. Both governments are committed to strengthening and diversifying trade, overcoming obstacles that hinder economic exchange, and fostering deeper engagement between their private sectors. Bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.

According to the Saudi Aid Platform, the Kingdom has implemented 113 projects in Indonesia, with a combined value of approximately $670 million. These projects span sectors such as education, transport and logistics, industry, mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare and early recovery, housing, non-food assistance, and a variety of developmental, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives.