Manama: Saudi Arabia has barred its citizens from travelling to war-torn Syria, citing security concerns.

The General Department of Passports said that the ban was imposed based the deterioration of the security situation in the country.

The department spokesperson Ahmad Bin Fahad Al Luhaidan said that the authorities did not want to put the lives of Saudi nationals at risk and that the ban would be lifted when the security situation improved there.

“The Department is keen on alerting Saudi citizens about the significance of adhering to the law on the use of passports in order to avoid the legal consequences of any violation,” Al Luhaidan said. “All details and regulations are available on the department’s site,” he added.

Saudi Arabia shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrew all its staff and diplomats in March 2012.

The foreign ministry said the decision was made “due to the developments” in the war-plagued country.

Riyadh has also taken stringent measures to prevent its citizens from joining the groups involved in the armed conflict in Syria.

Saudi fighters were last year given a grace period to contact Saudi authorities and return to the kingdom.

Security authorities reported that several Saudis used the grace period granted by the king to go home.