Saudis joining the thousands who have travelled abroad since restrictions were lifted last month say they cannot wait to take to the skies as more countries are added to the list of approved destinations.
At least 78,000 people left the kingdom within 10 days of the 14-month travel ban being lifted on May 17.
Lubna Faqih, a Saudi national, is set to join that number and told The National of her excitement before a flight to the US on Friday to see her daughter, Reem Al Jamaan.
“I can’t believe it’s just a few more days before I am able to take off," Ms Faqih said.
"It has been almost two years since I saw my dear daughter, who is a dental surgeon in the US.
She said it was the first time she would be seeing her daughter since she moved to Milwaukee.
"We are very close as she’s my only daughter, so I am absolutely thrilled and grateful that I am finally able to make it to the US.
“It’s been a period of trial, ups and downs, and I am so grateful that I am one of the lucky ones who will be able to travel this summer.”
Ms Faqih, an experienced traveller, said that the long wait meant, “I feel like I am travelling for the first time".
On May 17, Saudi Arabia lifted the travel ban, with the Interior Ministry on Saturday lifting restrictions on arrivals from 11 more countries – the UAE, Germany, the US, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan.
Travellers who have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine approved by the kingdom are exempt from quarantine on their arrival, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia has approved vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
Non-vaccinated travellers must now isolate for only seven days.
Basmah Nazer, a Saudi living in Jeddah, said she cannot wait to be reunited with her mother in the UK and is relieved she will not have to enter quarantine on her return.
“I haven’t seen my mother in almost a year and a half," Ms Nazer said. "It’s been a hard time since she is old and couldn’t travel to see us.
“With the lockdown and restrictions on travel, we decided to wait to get vaccinated to ensure safety for all our family members.
"My sister travelled last week and I will be joining them in June. I cannot wait to hug her and just be with her again.”
Before departure, Saudi citizens must obtain travel insurance valid for at least 30 days to help cover costs related to Covid-19 health care in case of infection.
They must also have a negative PCR test result before travelling, with approved laboratories licensed to issue the necessary certificates listed on the Weqaya Public Health Authority website.
All of those travelling to Saudi Arabia, including GCC citizens and new visa holders, must register proof of their vaccination electronically before their arrival on the Muqeem vaccine registration page.
Passengers who test positive for Covid-19 will undergo isolation in institutional quarantine for between 10 and 14 days, and must have medical insurance that covers the cost of treatment.
Saudi Arabia reopened its land, sea, and air borders, allowing citizens to travel outside the kingdom after a 14-month lockdown.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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if you go
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
