Kuwait-Iraq border crossing reopens

After a closure of about 21 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuwait and Iraq have reopened a major border crossing amid tight health and security measures.

The crossing, known in Kuwait as Abadli, reopened for passengers on Wednesday. Around 40 Kuwaitis and Iraqis travelled through the facility on the first day of reoperation, a Kuwaiti security official said.

“The outlet is open for 24 hours for departing people, but closes at 8pm for the arrivals,” Brig Ali Al Banai, the acting chief of border crossings, told Al Qabas newspaper. He urged travellers to abide by health and security measures.

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, reports Al-Rai daily.

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.