RIYADH – The Passport Department is putting the final touches to a mechanism for delivering Saudi passports by post, which will begin on Oct. 14, said Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Sehaibani, director of the Passport Department in Riyadh. Al-Sehaibani said the information center in the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the Passport Department and Saudi Post are working hard in creating a mechanism for delivering Saudi passports to their owners at their places of work or residence by post. Al-Sehaibani confirmed that delivering residence cards of expatriates by post was launched a month ago for companies and establishments via Muqeem and Abshir services. The operation was excellent and did not face obstacles. With the beginning of 1437H (Oct. 14, 2015), the residence cards for individuals will be delivered by post. In a statement after inaugurating the e-services unit in southern Riyadh, Al-Sehaibani said the Passport Department is working hard in serving citizens and expatriates, especially after noticing the sufferings of service seekers at the department's main office in downtown Riyadh. He said a plan has been devised to shift the centers outside the city center. He further said that the department is striving to open several centers for e-services. Al-Sehaibani confirmed that there are administrative centers in Riyadh Development Authority, which provide the services of 14 government sectors, including the Passport Department. Al-Sehaibani said the Passport Department will this year prevent forgery of Haj permits for good. All applications for Haj permits will be computerized via Abshir. Any person who wants to get a permit must visit the Ministry of Haj website, select the Haj operator, pay the fees and print his Haj permit. He added that the security men at the stations in Makkah's gateways will prevent anyone without a Haj permit from entering the holy sites. He said there are checkpoints and other points for sorting and followup. He said in case anyone enters Makkah without a permit, an administrative committee will issue the appropriate penalty, take his fingerprints and deport him immediately if he is an expatriate.
