Health Alert: Closures and Curfew/Movement Restrictions over the Eid Holiday
Message for U.S. Citizens – May 18, 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, May 24 through Thursday, May 28 for the Memorial Day and Eid-al-Fitr holidays, resuming operations on Sunday, May 31. Anyone who anticipates needing an emergency consular service should immediately contact the appropriate American Citizens Services Unit at the email address listed below.
Saudi authorities have announced a 24-hour curfew from Saturday, May 23, until midnight on Wednesday, May 27. This curfew applies in all cities and regions of the Kingdom. No unauthorized movement outside one’s personal residence is permitted, and any gatherings of five or more people are prohibited, including inside personal residences (excluding persons living in the residence). The U.S. Mission strongly urges citizens to abide by the curfew and other restrictions designed to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Saudi government has introduced an app to be used by any person requesting permission to leave their residence to obtain food, medicine, medical treatment, or for emergency humanitarian purposes during curfew periods. If approved, movement will generally be restricted to a limited area surrounding the requester’s home address. The Tawakkalna app can be downloaded on your phone. An FAQ for Tawakkalna is here and instructions and instructional videos are available here. Please note that the app does not work with VPNs.
U.S. citizens may wish to stock up on any necessary food or medication prior to May 23 in order to avoid the need to request authorization during the Eid period.
The Saudi government is expected to announce post-Eid curfew restrictions sometime before the end of the holiday.
For emergencies requiring immediate assistance, please contact appropriate local Saudi authorities. First responders can be reached at:
- Police: 999
- Fire: 998
- Ambulance: 997
- Abuse Hotline: 1919
- Child Protective Services: 116111
During evenings, weekends, and holiday periods, U.S. citizens can call the nearest embassy or consulate and reach a duty officer for assistance with emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Individuals who are planning to depart on the May 23 repatriation flight from Jeddah or the May 24 flight from Riyadh should request travel permission well in advance through the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s Tanaqul website, which processes applications for movement between cities and provinces and between areas of major cities. Please see our May 13 Health Alert for additional information on those flights.
For Assistance Contact:
Abdullah Ibn Hudhafah As Sahmi Street Roundabout no. 9, Diplomatic Quarter Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Telephone: (966) (11) 488-3800
Emergency Telephone: (966) (11) 488-3800
Fax: (966) (11) 488-7670
RiyadhACS@state.gov
Al Safa Street, Al Muhammadiyah District, near the new American School building.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Phone: (966) (12) 220-5000
Emergency Telephone: (966) (12) 220-5000
Flight assistance line: (966) 55-605-7594
Fax: (966) (12) 220-5093
JeddahACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Dhahran
Between KFUPM and King Abdulaziz Airbase, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Telephone: (966) (13) 330-3200
Emergency Telephone: (966) (13) 330-3200
Fax: (966) (13) 330-6816
DhahranACS@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Saudi Arabia Country Information
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