Saudi citizens thronged airports and the causeway to Bahrain on Monday after authorities lifted a ban on international travel imposed last year to contain coronavirus infections in the kingdom.
Many Saudis opted to drive to Bahrain, creating long lines of vehicles at the immigration checkpoints on the King Fahd Causeway where they were required to show proof of their health status before entering.
Authorities said all adults who have received both doses of the vaccine, or one dose at least 14 days before the date of departure, as well as those who have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months, can come and go from the kingdom by air, land and sea.
Saudis who are under 18 are allowed to travel as well, although travellers to Bahrain must be over 18, according to an update reported by the official Saudi Press Agency on Monday, citing an interior ministry official.
The travel ban remains in place for Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, Democratic Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, India and "any other country that is yet to control the pandemic" or where variants of the coronavirus are prevalent, the official told SPA.
The kingdom closed its borders in March 2020, allowing only those with special permits were allowed to enter or leave.
Saudis were jubilant as the end of the ban approached.
“I can’t wait to board a plane and go to my first destination,” said Yousef Al Sudais, a travel influencer.
Mr Al Sudais, 34, said the end of the ban made it feel as though he was travelling for the first time again.
"Even though I'm used to travelling a lot – because it is my job – this time feels different. I'm so excited I don't think I will sleep till my flight,' he said.
"I keep checking my bags and documents to see if I missed anything.”
Mr Al Sudais said he visited 25 countries in 2019, but only six in 2020 before the travel ban came into effect.
He said he was so excited about travelling again that he had decided not to book a return flight. "It is an open-ended trip," he said.
Mr Al Sudais plans to go to all of the countries that are open to tourists, including the UAE: “My first destination will be the Maldives, then Dubai, then Cyprus.”
The travel influencer said that people like him had a duty to show others how tourism and travel are possible despite the pandemic.
"I feel it is a responsibility for us travel bloggers to show how things are on the ground – what measures are in place in each country, and what the travel experience is like during this period."
Khalid Al Awaad also made plans to travel as soon as the ban ended. The 26-year-old is going to his favourite city, Dubai.
"The last destination I was in during March 2020 was actually Dubai,” he said. “I was supposed to stay for a week, then they announced the closure of the border and my six-day trip was shortened to two days. I'm going now to make up for last year.”
Although Mr Al Awaad is excited, he still has some concerns.
"I have got to say it is a risk to travel now, and I do have some concerns, but I took both shots of the vaccine and I will take all the measures to stay safe, and I advise everyone to do the same.”
For many people, the end of the travel ban means they can visit family living abroad for the first time in more than a year.
Doha Khalid, 59, will also be among the first to travel. She is heading to UAE on Friday to see her daughter and three grandchildren who live in Dubai.
"This is the longest period that I haven't seen the kids for, I miss them so much," she said.
Some 385 international flights are scheduled to depart from nine airports across the kingdom on Monday. The first flight to leave King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was bound for Sarajevo, SPA reported.
"All measures are in place to assure the traveller's safety at the airports," the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation spokesperson Ibrahim Alrwosa told The National.
“Social-distancing measures will be actively in place at all airports, and only those that have Tawakkalna app will be allowed in the airport," he added, referring to a government app used to access public places during the pandemic.
Before departure, the national airline Saudia requires travellers to obtain a negative PCR test result certificate from an accredited Covid-19 testing centre in the country.
Laboratories licensed to issue certificates for travel purposes are listed on the Public Health Authority (Weqaya) website, with more details available through the 937 helpline.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Indika
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Brief scores:
Kashima Antlers 0
River Plate 4
Zuculini 24', Martinez 73', 90 2', Borre 89' (pen)
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
