The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a circular notifying all airlines operating in the Kingdom—including private carriers—of the updated vaccination guidelines.

Under the previous mandate, all Umrah travellers were required to be vaccinated against Neisseria meningitidis, with the vaccine administered no more than three years and no less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia. With the new update, pilgrims will no longer need to provide proof of meningitis vaccination.

This change comes amid a series of adjustments to health regulations for religious travellers. In March of last year, Saudi authorities introduced a rule mandating that all Haj and Umrah pilgrims receive the flu vaccine prior to their journey. While the meningitis vaccine requirement has now been scrapped, health officials continue to recommend pneumococcal vaccination for individuals aged 65 and above, as well as those with chronic illnesses.

Additionally, the Kingdom’s authorities have extended the recommended window for receiving the flu and other required vaccines from ten to fifteen days before departure. This adjustment aims to provide travellers with a broader timeframe to ensure they are adequately immunized before embarking on their pilgrimage.

The updated guidelines are expected to streamline the travel process for Umrah pilgrims and reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to adapt its health regulations for the benefit of religious travellers. (ILKHA)