Saudi Arabia Opens Direct Flights with Egypt

Saudi Arabia has reopened direct flights with Egypt. After being previously placed on the red list, when Egyptian nationals residing in Saudi Arabia were not able return to the kingdom via a direct flight from Egypt, the Saudi embassy is now allowing Egyptian nationals to return directly if they have completed their vaccine doses prior to exiting the kingdom.

Eight other countries were placed on the red list alongside Egypt, namely Lebanon, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, Pakistan, and India.

Last week, Kuwait also opened direct flights to Egypt, provided that travellers adhere to all precautionary measures and have received their vaccinations. Notably, Chinese vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac are not recognized by Saudi or Kuwaiti authorities, and travellers will not be allowed to hop on a direct flight to either of these countries without a Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.