India recently signed an air bubble agreement with Saudi Arabia. This means that flights will be able to operate between the two nations, keeping some preset travel rules in mind. By Anushka Goel
Starting January 1, 2022, you will be able to fly to Saudi Arabia, as India has signed an air bubble agreement with the country, reports Mint. An air travel bubble is a temporary arrangement between nations to allow commercial planes to operate, keeping certain travel rules such as vaccination, quarantine, et cetera in mind. These can differ between countries depending on the COVID-19 situation and are frequently revised to keep a check on the spread of the virus.
India-Saudi Arabia air bubble agreement
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According to India.com, the number of countries India has air travel bubble arrangements with is now at 35, including the UK, the USA, the UAE, Canada, Singapore, the Maldives, Mauritius, and more. For these air bubbles, the two nations have discussed and decided upon the rules needed to enter and exit the borders. The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s website has detailed everything on their website.
Who can enter Saudi Arabia from India?
Nationals or residents of Saudi Arabia, and those of Indian, Nepalese or Bhutanese nationalities who are destined for Saudi Arabia only and hold a valid visa. However, it’ll be up to the airlines to ensure that there are no travel restrictions before they issue tickets/boarding passes to these passengers.
Who can enter India from Saudi Arabia?
Indian nationals or nationals of Nepal or Bhutan who are in Saudi Arabia can travel to India. Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders who hold passports of any nation can also enter India via Saudi Arabia, as long as there are no travel restrictions at the time of travel. Also, Saudi Arabian nationals, including diplomats, who hold a valid Indian visa as per extant guidelines can enter the Indian borders.
It is important to note that the air bubble agreement will be valid only for those passengers destined for India or Saudi Arabia.
Related: All The Countries You Can Visit As Part Of Air Travel Bubble Arrangements With India