Plans to resume travel gain traction as the weekly growth in Covid-19 case numbers slows in the Middle East and regional vaccination roll-outs advance
This package also includes:
> Saudi Arabia reopens borders for travel
> MEED's Covid-19 recovery index
> Gulf airlines deepen ties ahead of summer holidays
Algeria / 126,650+ cases
Plan to reopen land borders from 1 June suspended, but international flights will partially resume as planned.
Bahrain / 214,870+ cases
Emergency use of Russia’s single-shot Sputnik-Light Covid-19 vaccine authorised by Manama.
Egypt / 252,690+ cases
Additional Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines arrive via Covax scheme as China ships more Sinopharm jabs.
Iran / 2,823,890+ cases
Mass production of Iran’s locally manufactured Coviran Barekat jab is understood to have started.
Iraq / 1,164,150+ cases
An average of 15,000 people are getting vaccinated every day in Iraq, according to the WHO.
Jordan / 729,705+ cases
Amman is to receive support from the UAE for the inoculation of displaced persons and refugees.
Kuwait / 298,225+ cases
Travel from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka reportedly suspended to curb Covid-19.
Lebanon / 538,220+ cases
Beirut bans entry for travellers from India and Brazil amid a surge in infections in both countries.
Libya / 182,900+ cases
About 100,000 people have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines, according to official data on 11 May.
Morocco / 516,815+ cases
Rabat receives 650,000 additional Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses through the Covax facility.
Oman / 208,610+ cases
Health Ministry issues regulations for private sector companies to procure Covid-19 vaccines for their staff.
Qatar / 215,160+ cases
Doha is understood to be planning a gradual, four-phased easing of restrictions between 28 May and 30 July.
Saudi Arabia / 439,850+ cases
Amid tight biosecurity and quarantine measures, Riyadh lifts travel ban as planned on 17 May.
Syria / 24,052+ cases
Damascus is understood to have received a batch of Sinopharm vaccines that were donated by China.
Tunisia / 334,100+ cases
Central bank governor says parliament must approve Tunisia’s planned $4bn IMF loan to sustain the economy.
UAE / 554,520+ cases
Abu Dhabi plans to permit quarantine-free travel from 1 July to boost tourism in the emirate.
Produced on 23 May 2021. Sources: WHO, Worldometers, MEED
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