Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday issued fresh instructions to foreign passengers entering the kingdom in the context of the Omicron variant.


According to local media reports, under the latest guidelines issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), foreign travelers will be required to register at the place of their designated web application prior to their arrival.


The GACA further directed the airlines to ensure registration of all airlines on request and warned of stern action against violators.


Earlier, Saudi Arabia approved the entry of vaccinated people from Russia's Sputnik Job into the country, which would allow Muslims to participate in religious pilgrimages, vaccine makers said Sunday.



Russia's Foreign Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement that "Saudi Arabia has approved the entry of Russian Sputnik V vaccine vaccinators from January 1, 2022."



The decision states that the fund will "enable Muslims around the world to participate in Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V."


Foreign tourists vaccinated with Sputnik will still need to be quarantined for 48 hours and undergo PCR tests.