Saudi Arabia announced it will ease COVID-19 restrictions, resume some economic and commercial activities, and return to normalcy. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior as saying that, based on what the relevant health authorities had submitted, the approval has been issued on the following:

First: From 28 May until 30 May, the following will be done:

• Changing the allowed period during the curfew in all regions of Saudi Arabia, except Makkah, to become from six in the morning until three in the evening.
• Allowing travelling between regions and cities in Saudi Arabia by private car during the allowed period of curfew.
• Continuity of the activities exempted in the previous decisions that permitted to open some economic and commercial activities during the allowed period of the curfew in the following fields: Wholesale and retail shops as well as Commercial centers (malls).
• Continuity of prevention all activities that do not achieve physical distance, including: beauty salons, barber salons, sports and health clubs, recreational centers, cinemas, and other activities determined by the competent authorities.

Second: From 31 May until 20 June, the following will be done:

• Changing the allowed period during the curfew in all regions of Saudi Arabia, except Makkah, to become from six in the morning until eight in the evening.
• Continuity of all the activities exempted in the previous decisions.
• Allowing Friday prayer and all other prayers in the mosques of Saudi Arabia, except mosques in Makkah, amid precautionary and preventive measures.
• Continuity of performing Friday prayer and all other prayers in the grand holy mosque amid current health and precautionary measures.
• Lifting the suspension of attendance to the Ministries, government agencies and private sector companies, and return to conducting their office activities in accordance with the measures that will be made by the relevant authorities.
• Lifting the suspension of domestic flights, while adhering to the precautionary and preventive measures determined by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in coordination with the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities.
• Lifting the suspension of travel between regions by different means of transportation, with commitment of the competent authorities to the precautionary and preventive measures.
• With continuity of the activities exempted in the previous decisions; it will be permitted to open some economic and commercial activities during the allowed period of curfew for indoor orders in restaurants and cafes.
• Continuity of prevention of all activities that do not achieve physical distance, including: beauty salons, barber salons, sports and health clubs, recreational centers, cinemas, and other activities determined by the competent authorities.
• Continuity of application of social divergence procedures in public places at all times, and preventing gatherings for social purposes for more than fifty people, such as: wedding or funeral occasions and the like.

Third: From 21 June, normal situations in all regions and cities of Saudi Arabia will return as before the period of curfew procedures, except the city of Makkah, with full compliance with preventive health instructions and social divergence, and care to protect the highest-risk groups from infection.

Fourth: For the city of Makkah; the procedures applied in the first item will start from 31 May until the end of 20 June. The second item will be start from 21 June.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Deputy Premier and Interior Ministry Anas Al-Saleh said his country will not extend full curfew due to end May 30, and will turn to partial curfew to pave the way for the restoration of normal life, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. He added that the government would be announcing more details about the gradual restoration of normal life on Thursday.

For his part,, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the gradual reopening of business activities in Dubai from the fourth day of Eid Al Fitr (Wednesday, 27 May), Emirates news agency WAM reported.

Once the announcement comes into effect, there will be no restrictions on movement between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm.