Middle East

The Middle East Travel Information category offers necessary information on travel formalities for the many countries of the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and other popular destinations in the region. Articles published in this category provide up-to-date information on visas, passports, mandatory vaccinations, travel restrictions and customs regulations for travelers visiting Middle Eastern destinations. They also contain practical tips for travelers, useful information on precautions to take, the latest changes in regulations and legislation, and recent events that could influence travel safety in the Middle East region.

Oman tourism office closes in Paris

Oman's tourism representative office in France, set up in 2002, will close its doors in September, its director Rania Khodr emotionally announced at a press conference. The decision, taken after two years of reflection by the Omani Ministry of Tourism, will be effective from September 20.

Moroccans can apply for e-Visa for Jordan

Jordan, via its embassy in Rabat, recently announced the availability of the e-Visa, designed to facilitate entry procedures for Moroccan nationals wishing to visit the country. This is a reciprocal measure to the recent opening of the Moroccan e-Visa for Jordanians.

Qatar: Hayya card extended to 2024

Soccer fans will be happy, and so will the small Middle Eastern emirate. The local government has decided to extend the validity of the "Hayya" card well beyond the World Cup.

Qatar: what is the Hayya Card and how do I get one?

The World Cup in Qatar is about to get underway, in a climate of relative indifference due to the geopolitical context and organizational conditions. The Emirate has decided to block the entry of travellers who are not directly or remotely involved in the competition, between November 1 and December 23, i.e. 3 weeks respectively ... Read the article

Saudi Arabia reopens to tourists on August 1

Good news for travelers. The national news agency has announced that international tourism will resume on August 1. Vaccinated travelers (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson) will even have the chance to avoid mandatory quarantine on arrival. As the vaccine does not prevent contamination, you will still need to provide a negative result of ... Read the article

Israel and Greece: a bilateral agreement to boost tourism

On Monday February 8, Israel and Greece signed a tourist agreement giving their citizens vaccinated against Covid-19 unrestricted access to both countries. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu declared: "We must facilitate travel for those who have been vaccinated against Covid ... Read the article

Saudi Arabia: international air traffic resumes

After several months of suspension to limit the spread of Covid-19, Saudi Arabia is once again welcoming international travelers. Saudi Arabia ended the suspension of its international traffic on January 3, 2021. Airports and seaports have resumed traffic. By opening the Kingdom to international travelers, Saudi Arabia ... Read the article

Oman: the return of the e-Tourism Visa

After several months' absence, the Sultanate of Oman has decided to reopen its borders to the general public. However, a new health protocol has been put in place to protect the local population and welcome tourists in complete safety: It is compulsory to download the following applications before arriving on the territory: ... Read the article

The opening of Oman's borders: who is affected?

For several months now, many countries have kept their borders closed in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Such is the case of the Sultanate of Oman, which has not reopened its borders since March 11. The Omani authorities have officially declared that the country will reopen on October 1, 2020 ... Read the article

Partial resumption of international flights to Saudi Arabia

The good news continues to flow into the tourism sector. Saudi Arabia has announced a "partial" resumption of international traffic as of today. After six long months of "shutdown" of air activity, the Saudi Ministry of the Interior announced a partial resumption of flights this Tuesday, September 15. The travelers concerned are people ... Read the article

Omani borders to open on October 1

The Omani authorities have just announced the resumption of international flights, which had been suspended since March. All the Sultanate's airports are preparing to reopen to foreign travellers on October 1. A new sanitary protocol will be in place for the opening. To find out about the measures at your arrival airport, please ... Read the article