Emirates gets nod to operate special Saudi flights after virus ban

Emirates will operate selected flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam from March 12-15 under special dispensation from the authorities in Saudi Arabia

The flights will facilitate the return of travellers whose journeys were disrupted by the recent travel restrictions implemented by the kingdom as a containment response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Emirates will operate selected flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam from March 12-15 under a special dispensation from the authorities in Saudi Arabia.

The flights will facilitate the return of travellers whose journeys were disrupted by the recent travel restrictions implemented by the kingdom as a containment response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Only Saudi nationals will be allowed to travel on these Emirates flights from Dubai to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, the airline said in a statement.

Other nationals holding permits for the G20 Summit will be allowed to travel to Riyadh only, it added.

The return Emirates flights from these three Saudi airports will only be open to non-Saudi nationals.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia banned travel to Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Korea, Egypt, Italy and Iran.

Entry to the country for citizens from the nine countries was also banned as the kingdom tries to bring the spread of coronavirus under control.

The flights announcement comes as five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Saudi Arabia, taking the total number in the kingdom up to 20.

Globally, coronavirus cases rose to 114,500 on Tuesday, with over 4,000 deaths.

Flight schedules:

Dubai to Jeddah: EK 803 departing 4.10pm, arriving 6.30pm

Jeddah to Dubai: EK 804 departing 8.20pm, arriving 12.30am

Dubai to Riyadh: EK 817 departing 6.30pm, arriving 7.40pm

Riyadh to Dubai: EK 818 departing 9.25pm, arriving 12.35am

Dubai to Dammam: EK 825 departing 4pm, arriving 4.30pm

Dammam to Dubai: EK 826 departing 5.55pm, arriving 8.20pm

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