Saudi Arabia: Negative PCR Test Report Mandatory For Hajj Pilgrims

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia on Thursday (June 02) issued a circular to all airlines operating at Saudi Arabian airports, including chartered airlines outlining the health requirements for travellers coming to the Kingdom to perform Hajj.

Health Requirements For Hajj Pilgrims

“The General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a circular to air carriers regarding the health requirements to be met by travellers coming to the Kingdom for the purpose of performing Hajj for the year 1443 AH,” GACA said in a Tweet;

الهيئة العامة لـ #الطيران_المدني تصدر تعميمًا للناقلات الجوية بشأن الاشتراطات الصحية الواجب توفرها للمسافرين القادمين إلى المملكة لغرض أداء مناسك الحج لعام 1443هـ. pic.twitter.com/VhRzdq8Egn

— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) June 2, 2022

The circular requires all airlines carrying passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year to follow the following guidelines:

• Passengers must be under the age of 65
• Completed vaccination with basic doses of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
• All passengers must submit a negative PCR test for COVID-19 for a sample that was taken within 72 hours prior to departure to the Kingdom.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia: Ban On Entry of Visit Visa Holders At 4 Airports From June 9

The aviation authority stressed that failure to adhere to its circulars is considered a clear violation of government orders. Legal actions shall be taken against violators who will also be held accountable for the consequences of their violations.

Just a day before, the GACA has also issued a circular and directed all the airlines to not allow passengers to carry Zamzam water bottles inside their checked baggage onboard flights departing from the Kingdom’s airports.