Kenyans Blocked From Entering Gulf Nation as New Restrictions Are Imposed

Saudi Arabia has suspended travel to Kenya by its citizens and halted the issuance of all visa categories to travellers from the country following the Ebola outbreak. The Saudi Public Health Authority also announced a ban on entry into the Kingdom for people arriving from Kenya, including those travelling through other countries.

The Saudi government said the measures followed an assessment of the epidemiological situation by its health officials and were intended to minimise the risk of the virus spreading. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of an Ebola virus outbreak, based on an assessment of the epidemiological situation," the Kingdom said Friday, October 30.

A photo collage of the main entrance of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and a sign of Ebola, October 6, 2026. Photo Kenyans.co.ke "These measures include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya, suspending the issuance of all types of visas for arrivals from Kenya, and prohibiting entry into the Kingdom for those arriving from Kenya," it added.

Saudi Arabia said the latest restrictions are part of a wider approach to managing infectious disease risks, which began in July 2019 and was strengthened in May 2026 after the Ebola outbreak. In June 2026, the Kingdom suspended travel for its citizens and arrivals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , Uganda and South Sudan.

The announcement comes after Kenya confirmed its first case of the Ebola Bundibugyo on October 6, 2026, involving a Kenyan man who had travelled from the DRC through Uganda. According to the Ministry of Health, the patient arrived in Nairobi on October 3 and was isolated at Nairobi Hospital, but died on October 5 despite receiving supportive care.

Eight more people, including four family members and four healthcare workers who treated the initial patient, later tested positive for the virus. By October 26, the country had recorded nine confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths, including a 65-year-old woman who was the third patient and a close relative of the first victim.

To contain the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Health has intensified contact tracing, laboratory testing , surveillance and screening at points of entry. Members of the public have been urged to report any Ebola-related emergencies to the Ministry of Health through its toll-free line 719, by dialling *719# or via WhatsApp on 0700 719 719.

A photo collage of a test tube labelled ebola and Nairobi in the background, October 14, 2026. Photo Kenyans.co.ke