Saudi Arabia suspends visas for travellers from Kenya over Ebola

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday, October 30, that the Kingdom had introduced additional precautionary measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading into the country.

The restrictions include stopping Saudi citizens from travelling to Kenya and suspending all categories of visas for people arriving from the East African nation.

Saudi authorities have also barred entry to travellers arriving directly from Kenya or through third countries if they had stayed in Kenya or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak within the 21 days before their arrival.

The Saudi authorities explained the reason behind the new restrictions in their announcement.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced additional precautionary measures to mitigate risks associated with the Ebola virus, based on epidemiological assessments conducted by national health authorities,” SPA reported.

“The measures include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to the Republic of Kenya, halting all visa issuance for individuals arriving from Kenya and barring entry for travelers arriving directly from Kenya or transiting through third countries if they stayed in Kenya-or any other country with an active Ebola outbreak-within 21 days preceding their arrival in the Kingdom,” the statement added.

The latest measures build on preventive protocols that Saudi Arabia introduced in July 2019 and strengthened in May 2026 for travellers from countries considered at risk of Ebola outbreaks.

The Kingdom had also introduced similar restrictions involving three African countries earlier this year.

“In June 2026, the Kingdom suspended travel to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, while tightening surveillance and entry-point screening for travelers arriving from neighboring areas,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi Public Health Authority said the country’s health situation remained stable despite the additional travel restrictions.

“The health situation inside the Kingdom remains reassuring and under constant surveillance,” the authority stated.

It added that it was monitoring developments in coordination with other health agencies and implementing preventive measures to protect public safety.

The restrictions come as Kenya continues to manage an Ebola outbreak that has resulted in nine confirmed infections and two deaths.

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday, October 30, that the country had gone 10 days without recording a new infection following interventions to contain the virus.

Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said authorities were progressively releasing people who had completed the mandatory monitoring period.

The first 20 contacts completed their 21-day monitoring period and were released on October 26, while another 46 were expected to leave quarantine on November 3.

The government has targeted November 11 to complete the release of all remaining contacts under quarantine and surveillance.

All nine confirmed infections have been linked to a single cluster originating from Kenya’s first imported case.

The initial patient was a Kenyan man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3. 

He tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and died two days later.

Kenya subsequently confirmed additional infections among people who had come into contact with him, including relatives and healthcare workers. The country recorded its second death on October 23.