Saudi Arabia has suspended travel by its citizens to Kenya. It has also halted visas for travellers arriving from the East African country.

The restrictions were announced on Friday, October 30. They were introduced after Saudi health authorities assessed the Ebola situation in the region. The measures are intended to reduce the risk of the virus entering the Kingdom.

Who Will Be Affected?

The restrictions cover several categories of travel. Saudi citizens have been barred from travelling to Kenya.

Visas for travellers arriving from Kenya have also been suspended. Entry has been prohibited for people arriving directly from Kenya or through other countries if they stayed in Kenya, or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak, within the previous 21 days.

The measures could disrupt travel plans for Kenyans seeking to visit Saudi Arabia. Travellers with bookings or pending visa applications should seek guidance from the relevant Saudi authorities before making arrangements.

Saudi Arabia Says Health Situation Is Stable

Saudi authorities said the decision followed an assessment of the outbreak by national health officials.

The Saudi Public Health Authority said the health situation inside the Kingdom remained stable and was under continuous monitoring.

The new restrictions build on preventive measures introduced in July 2019 and strengthened in May 2026. Similar restrictions were imposed earlier this year on travel involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

The World Health Organization, however, has generally advised against travel restrictions in response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. It recommends measures such as health screening, surveillance and contact tracing.

Kenya Reports Nine Cases

The Saudi decision comes as Kenya continues its response to an outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola.

By Friday, October 30, Kenya had recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said no new infections had been reported for 10 days.

The cases have been linked to one cluster. The first patient was a Kenyan man who travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3.

He tested positive for Ebola and died on October 5. Further infections were later confirmed among people who had contact with him, including relatives and healthcare workers. A second death was reported on October 23.

Contacts Begin Leaving Quarantine

Kenya has begun releasing people who completed the required 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms.

The first 20 contacts were discharged on October 26. Another 46 were expected to complete monitoring and leave quarantine on November 3.

The government has set November 11 as the target date for completing the release of all remaining contacts under quarantine and surveillance. The process remains subject to health assessments.

The World Health Organization has reported no evidence of community transmission in Kenya. All nine confirmed cases have been linked to the same cluster.

Travel Restrictions Raise Wider Questions

Saudi Arabia’s decision highlights the wider travel implications of the outbreak, even as Kenya reports progress in its containment efforts.

The restrictions reflect Saudi Arabia’s assessment of the risk. They do not, on their own, establish that Ebola is spreading throughout Kenya.

For travellers, the immediate concern is whether existing bookings and visa applications will be affected. For Kenyan health officials, the priority remains containing the outbreak, monitoring contacts and preventing further infections.

The coming days will be important as more contacts complete quarantine and health authorities continue surveillance.