Hundreds of automobiles clogged the highways between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Monday, as Riyadh allowed people immunized against COVID-19 to travel overseas for the first time in more than a year.

As Saudi Arabia reopened its land, sea, and air borders, the King Fahd Causeway, a 25-kilometer-long chain of bridges sealed in March last year, was jam-packed with traffic.

Due to the risk of the pandemic, Saudi residents are still forbidden from traveling directly or indirectly to 13 countries, including tourism hubs Turkey, Lebanon, and India, as per the interior ministry.

Saudi nationals who have had at least one COVID-19 immunization jab at least two weeks before travel, those who have healed from the coronavirus sickness within the past six months, and those under the age of 18 will be permitted to travel for the first time since March 2020.

Following the Eid Al Fitr vacation, the relaxation of laws encouraged a rush of vacationers to leave the kingdom. "It's a wonderful sensation after such a prolonged absence from Bahrain," Mohammed, a Saudi visiting the island nation, said.

On Monday, passengers swarmed to Saudi Arabia's airports for international flights. "It's a wonderful feeling, thank God, we're pleased, especially after the horrible period we and the human race have gone through," said Bandar Al Nawash, a traveler waiting at King Khalid International Airport's departure lounge.

Fellow national Faisal Al Tamimi said he expected a massive throng at the airport once the restriction was removed at 1 a.m. local time, but there were just a few passengers.

"I believe people are concerned about coronavirus variations like the one in India, and also recent advances in other nations," Al Tamimi added.

The opening of boundaries would help Bahrain's tourism business, which is heavily dependent on high-rollers of its neighbor. For ages, the bridge between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has been a vital lifeline, carrying visitors who crowd Bahrain's commercial centers and hotels. Unfortunately, since the coronavirus applied the brakes, traffic has slowed dramatically.

"We have been trapped within Saudi for over a year and a half, so we can barely accept the restriction has been removed and we can explore the world," said Nawaf Al Askar, a Saudi traveling with his family from Riyadh to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Other travelers were departing to restart their studies in another country or for long-delayed business travels. "We've been daydreaming about traveling for over a year. Thank god the airport is operational "Saleh, a Riyadh resident, stated.

Bahrain tourist authorities were overjoyed at the causeway's reopening after a prolonged shutdown that allegedly cost the country's economy more than $10 million a day.

"It's a highly important moment, signifying the notion that we will be eventually escaping from COVID into a phase of normality," said Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA). The relaxation of Saudi prohibitions will improve Bahrain's GDP by $2.9 billion, as per Al Arabiya television, quoting the Bahrain Economists Society.

"Everyone is wondering if we will come back to pre-COVID levels, and no one can answer with a high degree of confidence," Qaedi added. "It's unlikely to occur this year, but we're going to see how far we can get." "We anticipate a big worldwide recovery as COVID limitations drop and individuals begin to identify strategies to effectively tackle the pandemic."

The forced hiatus has provided a chance for Bahrain to build its tourist economy beyond its position.

No quarantine for foreign visitors

Saudi Arabia has also declared that international travellers travelling by plane from most countries would no longer be required to be quarantined if they have been immunized against COVID-19.

The easing of travel restrictions in Saudi Arabia is an incentive for people, who have been prevented from travelling overseas because the outbreak began, to be immunized.

Citizens are authorized to travel in three categories: those who have gotten two doses of the vaccine, those who have got a single dose at least 14 days before to travel, and those who have healed from infection within the past six months. Children who have not been immunized may also travel if they have an authorized insurance coverage.

In a country with a population of over 34 million people, Saudi Arabia's health ministry said that it has provided over 11 million coronavirus vaccination shots. More than 433,000 coronavirus infections and over 7,000 deaths were already reported in the monarchy because of Covid-19. Over 199,000 cases have been reported in Bahrain, with over 730 deaths.