Location: Saudi Arabia Event: The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia periodically reissues and highlights best security practices for U.S. citizens residing in or visiting the country.  Following is the latest security and safety information available. The Department of State’s June 16, 2021  Travel Advisory  states travelers should “reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and …

Routine Notification – Holiday Closure of U.S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Location: U. S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Notification: The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General in Saudi Arabia will be closed on Monday, June 21, 2021 in observance of Juneteenth.  The Embassy and Consulates General will reopen on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. All confirmed in-person appointments …

Location: Country-wide The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced a temporary suspension for dogs imported from countries the CDC considers high risk for canine (dog) rabies, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This suspension also applies to dogs arriving from countries NOT at high risk if the dogs have been in any high-risk …

Location: Country-wide The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced today that travelers from eleven previously restricted countries, including the United States, will be allowed to travel directly to Saudi Arabia, if they follow existing entry requirements.  The countries are: the United States, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.  …

Location: Jeddah and Khamis Musheit, Saudi Arabia Event: There are reports of suspected attacks and explosions today near Jeddah and Khamis Musheit, Saudi Arabia.  Consulate General Jeddah urges U.S. citizens to review precautions to take in the event of an attack and stay alert in case of additional future attacks. The U.S. Consulate General in …

Location: Jeddah, Khamis Musheit, and Jizan, Saudi Arabia Event: There are multiple media reports of aerial attacks early this morning on an Aramco facility near the Jeddah International Airport, near a Saudi Air Force Base in Khamis Musheit, and in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.  At this time, there are no reports of casualties. The U.S. Consulate General in …

Security Alert: Reports of Missile Attack Over Riyadh – U.S. Embassy Riyadh (February 27, 2021) Location: Riyadh Event: There are media reports of a missile attack on Riyadh. The U.S. Embassy Riyadh urges U.S. citizens to take immediate precautions and stay alert in case of additional attacks. Actions to Take: If you hear a loud …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 4, 2021 Location: Saudi Arabia   Event:  The government of Saudi Arabia announced additional COVID-19 related restrictions.  Beginning February 4, 2021 at 10:00 p.m., the Government of Saudi Arabia will suspend, close, and/or impose restrictions on events, gatherings, in-restaurant dining, gyms, along with other actions in order to …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 3, 2021 Location: Entry to Saudi Arabia Event:  The government of Saudi Arabia has announced additional COVID-19 related travel restrictions.  Beginning February 3, 2021 at 9:00 p.m. local, Saudi Arabia will suspend the entry of people traveling from the United States and 19 other countries, as well as …

Location: Riyadh Event: There are media reports of intercepted air targets over Riyadh. The U.S. Embassy Riyadh urges U.S. citizens to review immediate precautions to take in the event of an attack and stay alert in case of additional future attacks.   Actions to Take: If you hear a loud explosion or if sirens are activated, immediately …

Health Alert – Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs (January 15, 2021)   Location: Worldwide – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director has signed an order requiring all airline passengers traveling to the United States, including U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test or recovery from COVID-19. Event:  Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must …

Routine Notification – Holiday Closure of U.S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Location: U. S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Notification: The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General in Saudi Arabia will be closed on Sunday, January 17, 2021 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.  In the event of an emergency for U.S. citizens, contact information for the …

Health Alert:  Information for Travelers Returning to the United States Beginning January 26, all air passengers to the United States will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their flight to the United States departs.  Airlines must deny boarding to passengers if they do not provide documentation of a negative test or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Please refer to CDC for more …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 3, 2021 Location: International flights to Saudi Arabia Event:  The January 3, 2021 General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Circular No. 4/36252 lifted the temporary suspension of all international flights and travel to Saudi Arabia, which the government of Saudi Arabia had previously enacted on December 21.  The Saudi government also reported that land …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 29, 2020 Location: International flights from Saudi Arabia Event:   The December 27 General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Circular No. 4/34761 permitted airlines to carry non-Saudi passengers outside the Kingdom subject to certain restrictions. Saudia Airlines is operating limited international flights to the United States.  Other airlines also have limited operations to other countries.  …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 28, 2020 Location: Saudi international airports, and land and sea ports Event:  In response to the new strain of COVID-19, on December 27, the government of Saudi Arabia announced a one-week extension of its travel-related restrictions.  The restrictions, originally announced on December 21, extended the suspension, except in exceptional cases, of all international flights for travelers, including entry to the …

Routine Notification – Holiday Closure of U. S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Location: U. S. Embassy and Consulates, Saudi Arabia Notification: The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General in Saudi Arabia will be closed December 24-27, 2020.  The Embassy and U.S. Consulates General will re-open on December 28.  In the event of an emergency for …

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 21, 2020 Location: Saudi international airports, and land and sea ports Event:  The government of Saudi Arabia has announced additional COVID-19 related restrictions beginning today, December 21, 2020.  All international flights for travelers have been suspended for one week except for foreign carriers that are currently inside the Kingdom …

Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (December 6, 2020) Location: Saudi Arabia Event: The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia periodically reissues and highlights best security practices for U.S. citizens residing in or visiting the country.  Following is the latest security and safety information available. The Department of State’s August 31, 2020  Travel Advisory  states the need …

Security Alert: Reports of Missile or Drone Attack on Aramco Facility in Jeddah – U.S. Consulate General Jeddah (Release Date: November 23, 2020)  Location: Jeddah Event: There are media reports of a possible missile or drone strike and fire at an Aramco facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At this time, there are no reports of casualties. …

The U.S. Consulate in Jeddah will be closed tomorrow. If you have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, please contact jeddahvisas@state.gov  or  jeddahacs@state.gov  to arrange for a new appointment. Please inform us in your email if your appointment is an emergency. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia encourages U.S. citizens to review their passport expiration date and renew it if necessary.  We ask that you renew your passport early!  Many countries require U.S. citizens to have at least six months validity on their passport for entry; you can review your destination’s requirements  here . You can mail in your …

If you plan to vote in the U.S. general election on November 3, 2020, it is important to ACT NOW!  Don’t wait; return your voted ballot right away!  Remember that U.S. embassies and consulates general are not polling places; same-day, in-person voting is not available outside the United States, but you can get assistance in returning your absentee …

Message for U.S. Citizens – September 17, 2020 Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Event:  The Government of Saudi Arabia announced changes effective September 15 that allow holders of current residence permits (iqamas) with a valid entry/exit visa as well as holders of a valid business or visit visa to enter (including exit and re-enter) Saudi Arabia. The …

Message for U.S. Citizens – September 14, 2020 Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Event:  Beginning the week of September 20, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia will reopen the online appointment system for routine passport and consular report of birth abroad services as well as notarial services on the Mission  website .  In March, in an effort to …

  Mail your Ballot for the 2020 Election The U.S. general election is on November 3.  While absentee ballots can be mailed to the United States, many states also accept online registration and votes via email.  To learn more about state-specific overseas voting guidelines, registration deadlines, and election dates, please visit  FVAP.gov . If you are mailing your ballot …

Health Alert Message for U.S. Citizens – August 31, 2020 Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Event: Saudia Airlines has announced repatriation flights in September to Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). On September 5 and 12 there are flights from Riyadh and on September 6 and 13 from Jeddah. These are one-way flights with no …

Health Alert: Updated Global Travel Advisory Message for U.S. Citizens – August 7, 2020 Location: Saudi Arabia Event: In coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s removal of their Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice (Avoid Non-Essential Travel), the Department of State has removed its Global Level 4 Travel Advisory (Do Not Travel). A …

Message for U.S. Citizens – July 19, 2020    Location: Saudi Arabia   Event:  The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the U.S. Consulates General in Dhahran and Jeddah will be closed from Sunday, August 2, through Thursday, August 6, for the Eid-al-Adha holidays, resuming operations on Sunday, August 9.   For emergencies requiring immediate assistance, please contact appropriate local Saudi authorities.  First …

Health Alert Message for U.S. Citizens – July 7, 2020  Location: Saudi Arabia Event:  The U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has arranged with Saudi authorities and Saudia Airlines to offer limited commercial flights from the Kingdom to the United States during the period that regular commercial service is suspended to help contain the COVID-19 virus.    Saudia Airlines has announced additional flights to the United States from Riyadh and …

Security Alert – U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia, June 27, 2020 Location: Riyadh Event:   On June 26, 2020, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. personnel and family members from the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, which is comprised of the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran, due to the COVID-19 …

Health Alert Message for U.S. Citizens – June 24, 2020 Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Event: Saudi Arabia continues to experience sustained community spread of the COVID-19 virus. As of June 23, there were 157,612 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Kingdom. This growing caseload impacts the ability of Saudi Arabia’s medical system to provide …

Security Alert – U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia, June 23, 2020 Location: Riyadh Event: There are media reports of a possible missile or drone that struck a building in Riyadh. At this time, there are no reports of casualties. The Mission urges American citizens to review immediately precautions they should take in the event of an …

Health Alert Message for U.S. Citizens – June 21, 2020 Location: Saudi Arabia Event:  The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the lifting of all curfew restrictions in the country, including in Mecca, effective immediately. Social distancing and the wearing of masks continue to be required in public places at all times and gatherings of …