Saudi Arabia on Monday lifted a ban on citizens traveling to Turkey and three other countries, state media reported, as the kingdom continues to relax coronavirus prevention measures.
The move comes two days before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit Turkey.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia imposed a rule against all foreign travel, and as of last month, 16 countries including Turkey were still off-limits to Saudi citizens.
“A decision has been made to lift the suspension of direct or indirect travel by citizens to Ethiopia, Turkey, Vietnam, and India,” the official Saudi Press Agency quoted an interior ministry official as saying on Monday.
It was made “based on the follow-up to the epidemiological situation of the coronavirus pandemic,” the official said.
Saudi authorities are also easing coronavirus restrictions at home, announcing last week that masks would no longer be required in most enclosed spaces.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have worked to strengthen the bilateral relationship in recent months, publicly embracing during a visit by Erdogan to Saudi Arabia in April.
In May, national flag carrier Saudia resumed flights to Turkey, although citizens were still unable to travel there.
Turkey is a favorite holiday destination for many Saudi families.
Prince Mohammed is expected to arrive in Turkey on Wednesday after stops in Egypt and Jordan.
