Abdali border opens after 2 years – PCR, two doses vaccine must

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: The Abdali land border crossing between Kuwait and Iraq, reopened after nearly two years (since February 24, 2020 until Dec 22, 2021), reports Al-Rai daily. The daily said the port remained closed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic as travel was restricted to control the spread of the virus. The sources said people entered and left the country at complete ease under the watchful eyes of the security authorities and it took on three minutes to complete the procedures after running a security check.

The Ministry of Interior said the border point is open for departure to Iraq 24/7 but the documents of arriving passengers will be processed on for 12 hours a day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. He disclosed the movement of people crossing the border is very small, especially those arriving into the country not exceeding dozens, in contrast to the past years before the pandemic, which was witnessing a large movement of travelers between both sides, whether to visit relatives or for religious visits in Iraq, where the number of travelers exceeded half a million 2019. With regard to the travel procedures that he explained travelers are required to perform a PCR test 72 hours before departure and obtain two vaccination doses of the approved vaccines in Kuwait, and these procedures are applied to departing and arriving travelers, explaining that departing travelers must be citizens.

Non-Iraqis must obtain a prior visa from the embassy, as there is no issuance of visas at the ports. Colonel Al-Azmi indicated the Ministry of Interior is fully vigilant in securing the Abdali port, and is also using the latest advanced devices, in addition to the security men who patrol the border on foot, from the control tower and the radar system to prevent any smuggling or infiltration between the two sides. He added, buses are provided around the clock to transport passengers who leave and arrive especially those who do not have a vehicle, while allowing individuals to leave in their own vehicles.

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