Qatar Customs announced that 930 vehicles crossed the Abu Samra border crossing between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia three days since the land border was reopened. 

According to Land Customs Administration at the General Authority of Customs, 835 vehicles exited the country while 95 vehicles entered during the first three days of reopening.

Murshid Shaheen al-Kuwari, director of the department, said the Customs operations resumed at Abu Samra soon after receiving instructions in this regard. He explained a large number of screening devices have been provided to ensure that the work is carried in line with the highest international standards.

The GAC resumed its Customs procedures for receiving travellers from both sides in co-ordination with its partners in government agencies operating at Abu Samra on January 9.

During a tour to the Customs facilities there, Abdul Rahman al-Obaidli, head of the passengers section at GAC, said all the necessary procedures were being followed at the border. “Once directives were received to open the port for travellers, the Land Customs Department carried out the required works covering all administrative and technical aspects," he said.

In a post on Twitter, Qatar Customs said: "The number of vehicles that crossed the Abu Samra border crossing between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the first three days of opening the crossing, reached 835 vehicles during the exit process, and 95 vehicles during the entry process, according to the statistics of the Land Customs Administration at the General Authority of Customs."

Due to the on-going pandemic, precautionary measures were implemented on all arrivals in the Abu Samra border and are based on Qatar’s current COVID-19 travel and return policies.

After the Gulf leaders signed the Al-Ula agreement last week Saudi Arabia had said it will restore all ties with Qatar and they reopened the land, sea and air border.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people crossing over into Qatar from Saudi through the Abu Samra border are required following a set of procedures. They are:

* All arrivals to Qatar from the Abu Samra border crossing are required to undergo a Covid-19 test and obtain a virus-free certificate no more than 72 hours before travel.

* All arrivals will be subject to hotel quarantine for one week. The hotel accommodation is to be booked through the Discover Qatar website prior to arrival. All travellers from Qatar wishing to travel through the Abu Samra border crossing must make a reservation for hotel quarantine for the date of return before leaving the country.

* All arrivals must sign a formal pledge to adhere to hotel quarantine and follow the policies and conditions of the quarantine, in addition to downloading the Ehteraz application, which traces Covid-19 infections.

These measures are subject to change based on COVID-19 public health indicators in Qatar and around the world.