JEDDAH – The fee for permanent Special Privilege Iqama will be SR800,000 ($213,333) for one time while the one-year temporary iqama will cost SR100,000 ($26,666), according to well-informed sources. The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday the Special Privilege Iqama Law that provides qualified foreigners a number of residency benefits. Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned that the Special Privilege Iqama will provide an opportunity to all those who have ties with the Kingdom, irrespective of their nationality, to obtain a permanent or temporary residency that would provide them with many privileges as well as the chance to avail of several services for themselves and their families. It is expected that the relevant authorities would grant qualified professionals in rare specializations the "Special Privilege Iqama" so as to benefit from their expertise. The Cabinet adopted the landmark decision after examining an earlier decision of the Shoura Council and reviewing the recommendation of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA). A Special Privilege Iqama Center is being constituted as the sole competent body to regulate and manage everything related to the new iqama. The center will complete preparing the Executive Regulations of the law within 90 days, paving the way for issuance of the special iqama. The center, which enjoys financial and administrative independence, will announce all the details related to the Executive Regulations, and the mechanism of submitting applications and other relevant matters. The new law allows expatriates, who are holders of this iqama, to enjoy several privileges hitherto allowed only to the citizens. These include owning real estate, renting out of properties, educational and health services and other utilities specified in the Executive Regulations.
