Saudi Arabia Suspends Travel to Kenya and Bars Entry from Country Due to Ebola Virus

Saudi Arabia announced on Friday the suspension of travel by its citizens to the Republic of Kenya and the suspension of issuing all types of visas for travelers arriving from Kenya, as additional precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of an Ebola virus outbreak.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the Saudi Public Health Authority (Waqaaya) as saying that the measures include barring entry to Saudi Arabia for travelers arriving from Kenya, including those transiting through other countries who had stayed in Kenya or in countries experiencing an Ebola outbreak during the 21 days preceding their arrival in the Kingdom.

The authority added that these measures extend the preventive steps the Kingdom has been implementing since July 2019, which were strengthened in May 2026 for travelers from countries facing Ebola outbreak risks, as part of a proactive approach to continuous health risk monitoring, assessment, and coordination with relevant local and international authorities.

It clarified that in June 2026, the Kingdom had suspended travel by Saudi citizens to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of South Sudan, while also enhancing precautionary measures for travelers from countries adjacent to Ebola outbreak areas, including screening at entry points, epidemiological investigations, and activation of early health response mechanisms.

Waqaaya emphasized that the health situation in the Kingdom is reassuring and subject to close and continuous monitoring, noting that the Kingdom will continue to track regional and international epidemiological developments and take necessary preventive measures in line with the evolving epidemiological situation.