A negative PCR test performed no more than 72 hours prior to departure is required in all situations, according to Saudi Tourism Authorities.

Saudi Arabia recognized Serum Institute of India’s Covishield as an approved Covid vaccination for entry into the country on Friday, a major victory for Indian travellers. 

Saudi Arabia has made it easier for fully vaccinated Indian travellers to enter the country without needing to go through institutional quarantine.

Covishield has now joined a list of eight other vaccines that have been approved by Saudi Arabia, including Pfizer BioNTech, Comirnaty, Oxford AstraZeneca, SK Bioscience, Vaxzevria, Moderna, Spikevax, and Johnson & Johnson.

Saudi Tourism Authority said in a statement that Indian visitors who are fully vaccinated with Saudi-approved vaccines can enter the country without being subjected to institutional quarantine.

Indian travellers who have spent 14 days in a nation that is not on the list of countries where entry is temporarily suspended are also permitted as long as they are fully vaccinated, according to the tourism authority.

The authorities have stated, however, that in all cases, a negative PCR test conducted no more than 72 hours prior to departure is a must.

The approval of Covishield is seen as a significant step toward allowing Indian tourists to cross the border.

In August, Saudi Arabia had allowed fully-vaccinated Indian nationals to return to the country without having to quarantine in a third country under specific conditions.

– India’s new age travel digital media

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