Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has issued a circular to all airlines operating at the Kingdom’s airports, including private aviation, requiring them to ensure that Umrah visa holders and anyone intending to perform Umrah, regardless of visa type, have received the required vaccinations.
The authority outlined the following instructions:
Inform passengers of health requirements
Airlines must inform travelers heading to Saudi Arabia, particularly Umrah visa holders, of the Ministry of Health’s requirements and ensure they receive the required vaccinations, including the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine.
Recognized vaccination certificate
Travelers in this category must hold a certificate for a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide or conjugate vaccine administered at least 10 days before arrival. The certificate must be no more than three years old for the polysaccharide vaccine or five years for the conjugate vaccine.
Exemption for children under one
Children younger than one year are exempt from the vaccination requirement.
Document checks at boarding
Airlines must take the necessary measures to ensure passengers carry the required documents before boarding.
Compliance
The authority emphasized that failing to comply with its circulars constitutes a violation of government instructions and that legal action will be taken against offenders.
