The ban takes effect on Thursday.

Emirates said it would no longer carry to Saudi Arabia passengers with Umrah pilgrimage visas or tourists from nearly two dozen countries until further notice, in compliance with a Saudi government directive to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The ban takes effect on Thursday.

According to a statement on its website, Emirates said that due to a directive issued by Saudi Arabia, the following will be suspended entry to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from February 27 until further notice:

All customers travelling on an Umrah visa. All customers holding tourist visas and coming from: People's Republic of China & SAR (Hong Hong & Macau) / Republic of China / Iran / Italy / Korea / Japan / Thailand / Malaysia / Indonesia / Pakistan / Afghanistan / Philippines / Singapore / India / Lebanon / Syria / Yemen / Azerbaijan / Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan / Somalia / Vietnam.

"Customers across the Emirates network holding tickets for final destination Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Umrah visa or coming from the above countries, will not be accepted for boarding at their point of origin until further notice," it added.

"All GCC nationals travelling to/from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are mandated to use their passports for travel (except for those who are outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wish to return to it)", the airline further said.

Earlier today, the foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended visas for pilgrims wishing to visit the holy city of Makkah over coronavirus fears.

The ministry said that this precautions comes in completion of the efforts taken to provide the utmost protection to the safety of citizens and residents and everyone who intends to come to the the Kingdom to perform Umrah or visit the Prophet's Mosque or for the purpose of tourism.

The foreign ministry said it was also suspending visas for tourists visiting from countries where the new virus is a "danger".



With inputs from Reuters



