Saudi Arabia reported on Friday 24 additional coronavirus cases, 11 of whom were Egyptians.
This brings the total of cases detected in the Kingdom to 86, the health ministry announced.
Saudi Arabia suspended on Thursday all social gatherings in wedding halls and hotels over coronavirus fears, SPA quoted a source in the Interior Ministry as saying.
It also suspended the counting phase of the 2020 general census until further notice because of the outbreak, the General Authority of Statistics said in a statement on Friday.
More than 700 infections have been reported to Friday in the Gulf states. No deaths have been announced so far. Authorities say most of those infected had traveled to Iran, the regional epicenter of the outbreak, or been in contact with returnees.
Kuwait's religious authorities had asked Muslims to pray at home on Friday as the emirate prepares to enter a period of virtual lockdown to fight the spread of the virus.
"The doors of the mosques will stay closed," said the ministry of religious endowment in a statement, citing a religious decree. "The fatwa removes the need to attend prayers on Friday in mosques, and authorizes having them at home, to protect the people from coronavirus."
Kuwait confirmed 20 new cases in the past 24 hours, reporting a total of 100 to Friday, state news agency KUNA said.
The government announced on Wednesday that passenger flights will be cancelled for an undetermined period from midnight on Friday to and from Kuwait's only international airport.
The measures also provide for a two-week public holiday, ending on March 29, and the closure of gyms, public gardens and the popular Friday market. Restaurants and coffee shops are only allowed to keep delivery services open.
Vital services, including oil production, are excluded from the ruling. Kuwait National Petroleum said on Friday strategic reserves of oil products were at a "safe" level and all measures taken to deal with emergencies.
Bahrain ordered the release of hundreds of prisoners on Thursday, according to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy which linked the decision to efforts to contain the virus.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a decree granting pardon for 901 prisoners. A further 585 prisoners will spend the remainder of their sentences in rehabilitation and training programs, the state-run Bahrain news agency reported.
Qatar shut down all cinemas, theaters, museums, children’s play areas, gyms and wedding halls overnight.
Qatar has 262 cases, Bahrain 195 and the United Arab Emirates 85.
In the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways announced the suspension of flights to and from Rome and Milan, from March 14.
Dubai-based Emirates also suspended until further notice all flights to and from Italy, except Rome.
The death toll in Italy passed 1,000, in Europe's deadliest outbreak.
