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Saudi Arabia to require two vaccine jabs for international travel

The Saudi government has made receiving the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement for its citizens to travel and work in the past.
Saudi passengers arrive at King Khaled International airport in the capital, Riyadh, on May 17, 2021.

Saudis will need to receive two COVID-19 vaccine doses to travel outside of the country beginning next month.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that receiving the second dose of a coronavirus vaccine will be a condition for Saudi citizens to travel abroad beginning on Aug. 9, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The decision was made based on Ministry of Health concerns about new variants of COVID-19 and the relative lack of effectiveness of receiving just a single dose, according to the agency. Many vaccines require two doses to be fully effective.

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