Saudi Arabia after lifting the travel ban which was imposed last year inthe wake of the COVID-19 pandemic from Monday has started operatinginternational flights at full capacity effective 1 a.m.

For the past 14 months, Saudi citizens have mostly been banned fromtravelling abroad out of concerns that international travel could fuel theoutbreak of the virus within the country of more than 30 million people.

In an announcement on Sunday, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced thatMay 17 will mark the full opening of all borders, air, land, and sea.

After lift-up of restrictions, the Kingdom will allow people who gotCOVID-19 jabs to travel along with those who have recovered from infectionin less than six months, it said.

The categories include those who have received two doses of the COVID-19vaccine, those who received one dose at least two weeks before travel,those recovering from the virus within six months from the date of travel,and citizens under 18-years-old provided they present a travel insurancepolicy approved by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), covering the risks ofCOVID-19 outside the Kingdom before travel.

The decision was based on the recommendations by the competent healthauthorities.