WEBDESK: The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) has made polio vaccination mandatory for all passengers traveling to Saudi Arabia.
According to the new regulation, passengers from countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Congo, and Mozambique must present a valid polio vaccination certificate upon entry.
However, there is an exception for travelers who transit through these countries for less than 12 hours and do not leave the transit area.
Moreover, the certificate must be at least four weeks old, and any certificate older than six months will not be accepted.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority has informed all airlines through a notice and warned that strict legal action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the new rules.
On the other hand, Pakistan has once again been ranked among the countries with the weakest passports according to the latest Henley Passport Index for the first half of 2025.
Pakistani passport slips to fifth weakest in the global list, with a global ranking of 103, and offers visa-free access to only 33 countries.
According to The index Singapore passports are the strongest globally. Singaporean passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to 195 countries, followed by Japan in second place with access to 193 countries. Countries such as South Korea, France, and Germany share the third spot, granting entry to 192 countries without a visa.
