Traveling from Bahrain to KSA and back

To keep it simple, you can go across the causeway.

You have to isolate for 2 days and then do a test at the end of it to exit.  If you don't do the test, you have to self isolate for 7 days.

The updated MOH forms are now available on Saudia and Flynas sites which show what I have written above.   Also Saudia has updated their website requirements as well.  So now, all is clear.  Forget about Gulf air, they have out dated information which will eventually catch up as they start flights. 

https://www.saudia.com/SAUDIA%20Content … mer-en.pdf

I am going to Riyadh on Sunday via the causeway and a dozen of my friends have already gone back to Saudi from Bahrain since 15th Sep via the causeway (one went yesterday even).  No issues.   A few have even come back and didn't have to pay the 60BD or isolate as they took the test in Saudi and showed it on the app at Bahrain border.

You can also go via air if you take a flynas flight via Dubai - this is the most reliable as Emirates flights keep getting cancelled.  Another of my friends did that on Sunday.

Lastly, forget about daily commute as was the case for Dammam based people prior to Covid.  It just doesn't work now with the isolation in Saudi and the costs of the tests back and forth.

Thanks XTang for your usual quick response. As you mentioned that you are going on Sunday, can you share your experience once you go, and when you return back to Bahrain.

Of course, daily commute is not feasible now. I am thinking of weekly between Bahrain and Riyadh, in my own car, what I used to do pre Covid times.

Weekly is again not possible.

Why?

Assume you go Sunday, you will not be able to go back to the office before Wednesday due to the self isolation and test.  And you can't mess with it, you MUST set your isolation location within 8 hours of entering Saudi on the Tetamann app.  If you break it, then there is a fine and deportation.

And then you will come back on Thursday evening?   if your employer is fine with you working just two days a week in the office, then it can work .   

On top there are costs.  40-50 BD for a test in Bahrain (you need a certificate so the free tests from Government won't work) and similarly, on the way back, another 60 BD at the causeway in Bahrain.  You can skip the Bahrain test by taking one in Saudi and that works even if on the app BUT you are allowed to take only one test within 14 days for free and without cause.  So that will work for one week only and then the next, you are getting hit for a 100 BD in tests for a round trip.

I will share my experience but I am telling you that it is confirmed.  I know a dozen people who have gone and I got their experiences first hand from them, it was straightforward.

Hmm, I think I will do something like 2 weeks in Riyadh and 1 or 2 weeks in Bahrain. My employer and client are flexible as I have been working full time from home for past 7 months.

Also, if you don't mind, do share your PCR test experience in Riyadh, and also when you are back in Bahrain. Which approved clinic? How long are the queues? How long to get the results etc.

PCR in Bahrain, you can do from anywhere.  I went to Al Noor, paid 50 BD, did drive through - result in 24 to 36 hours.  The reason I went for them is because they are one of the few who test on Friday and I leave on a Sunday.

Riyadh, you book on the Sehatty app and go through drive through.  Its empty nowadays and you get the result in 12 hours.  For a paid test, you can go to any hospital but the cost is enormous compared to Bahrain - in some cases, up to 1500 SAR.

Alright, thanks a lot. Will try Al Noor or BSH.

I assume that the Sehatty app you are referring to is the one that allows 1 test per 14 days in KSA, which you earlier mentioned.

Yes one test without cause i.e. test for no reason.  If you have symptoms or have travelled then there might be a way to get around it.

I crossed the causeway today and reached Riyadh now.

It was straightforward and the causeway was pretty much empty.   After you exit Bahrain immigration, they have put cones to direct you to a cabin where you go in, fill out the health declaration forms and submit your Covid test copies.  Then you get back in the car and go to Saudi immigration.

And I have booked my Covid test appointment for 2 days from now on the Sehatty app.  One change though, the declaration I filled changed the location setting from the Tetamann app to the Tawakalna app so I did that.

Thanks XTang for the update. When are you traveling back to Bahrain? Would be useful to know about your return experience as well.

Will probably go back towards end of Oct.  Will keep you posted.

I went back to Bahrain on 21st Oct.  Entered and showed them the test results on the Sehatty app.  They gave me a -ive PCR form which I filled, signed and handed to immigration.  No test no quarantine.

The only thing is that Saudi immigration are discouraging people from exiting - unless you can show them Bahrain visa or CPR.  So I would assume that if you have neither, they won't let you exit Saudi easily.

And then I crossed back into Saudi over this weekend.  Will again go back to Bahrain in a few weeks.

Hi all, any recent experience of traveling from Bahrain to KSA and back? I have to travel for 2 weeks immediately after Eid holidays, so just want to make sure of everything.

Below is the information that I have. Please correct if something is not relevant anymore or outdated.

Bahrain to KSA via Causeway

1- Take a PCR test in Bahrain, within 48 hours of departure
2- Show the test results at immigration, along with the 2 apps installed on your mobile
3- Update your residence / quarantine location on those apps within 8 hours of arrival in KSA
4- Quarantine for 2 days and book a PCR test appointment after 2 days of arrival
5- Once you have the test results as negative, you can resume your usual activities


KSA to Bahrain via Causeway

1- Within 48 hours of departure from KSA, do a PCR test (either do this or do it on arrival in Bahrain)
2- Show the results while crossing into Bahrain (if you have not done it in KSA, then you have to do one at arrival)
3- Make sure that BeAware app is installed on your mobile
4- Quarantine till the test results are in (if you've done it on arrival)
5- Do a 2nd test on 5th day of arrival
6- Do a 3rd test on 10th day of arrival
7- You can pay for all 3 tests in Bahrain (BHD 36) via the BeAware app


Appreciate if someone can make corrections if something is incorrect in the above procedures. Thanks!

I do this every other week.

To clarify, Bahrain to saudi:
1) 72 hours not 48
2) Results only. They don't check apps
5) Not after results but when tawakkalna status bar turns green

Saudi to Bahrain:
1) 72 hours. Have to do in Saudi. No tests on arrival anymore
And if you do it in Saudi, then there is no quarantine or subsequent tests.  Furthermore, if you are vaccinated on beware app, from first of Eid, you won't even have to do this test in Saudi.

When I go to Saudi, I take a print out of tests, show them, enter, set location, book test through tawakkalna, get result and wait for tawakkalna to turn green before moving.  Now since I got a second vaccine in Saudi (on top of Bahrain one), tawakkalna status remains as immune and I don't have to do this.

On way back, I do either a free test from sehatty or a paid one, show result on the way into Bahrain on the phone and that's it.

Thanks XTang, much appreciated.

Good to know that vaccinated people will get some relief after Eid. I've got both my shots in Bahrain back in January. Let's see how it goes.

Those shots will help getting back in Bahrain.  But unless it's AstraZeneca or Pfizer, Saudi won't update your Tawakkalna status to immunized as they don't recognize Sputnik or Sinopharm.   I tried and this is why I had to get a second vaccine (First one was sinopharm).

A couple of questions. I travelled today to Riyadh, via causeway. Checked into the hotel. Installed the Tawakkalna app and signed up. Also updated my location.

Then I installed the Sehatty app. I am facing issue with registration. It asks for National ID / Iqama number. I tried adding the visa number and also the entry number that they write manually in your passport when you first use your visa. But for both it is showing the error of invalid format. Any clue about that? I believe I need this app to register for my first PCR test.

Secondly, If I am already vaccinated in Bahrain (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in January), how can my vaccination status be updated in Tawakkalna app?

They just checked the printout of my vaccine certificate and PCR test result at the time of entry (the new area just before Saudi immigration) and then asked me to go to immigration. They did not do any entry into the system or anything.

Just one more piece of information. In my Tawakkalna app, under my photo and name, there is a green bar which says the following:

No record of infection
Last update: Monday 17 May, 2:39 PM

Not sure what this status means. Do I still need to quarantine for 3 days and do a PCR test tomorrow? Or can I resume my normal activities.

I looked at the color coding of this status bar. I believe it should be light blue, which means "Arrived from abroad". I haven't done any PCR test in KSA yet, as I just arrived today.

Read this for your vaccination question.  It will take time and if you have sinopharm, forget about it.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 50#5120607

There is a problem in tawakkalna since last week and it's showing as green for everyone on entry.  Up to you what you want to do but I would suggest to follow the rules. Also no need for sehatty, you can book the test through tawakkalna.

Thanks. I got Pfizer one in Bahrain back in January, but looking at the other thread it seems to be quite a hassle to get the vaccination status updated in Tawakkalna app. I am here for 2 weeks and not sure of my next trip.

I think I will go through usual route. Since I arrived today, I will book my PCR test for Wednesday. If the status remains green by Thursday morning, I will resume my usual activities and start going to client office.

Still figuring out which ID number to use to register for Sehatty app, as I am on multiple entry business visa and not an iqama holder.

There is an option of Covid-19 Test on Tawakkalna app as well. I am not sure if I can use that or not, or is it mandatory to go through Sehatty app.

As I said, you can use tawakkalna to book test. And by the way, if you are not an iqama holder, your status won't be updated in tawakkalna - the route I told you works only for iqama holders at this point.  Maybe in the future they will expand it but I doubt it.