Saudi to roll out 'all purpose' national ID cards

AIRPORT ID: The new Saudi national ID cards will hold passport information as well as health records, (Getty Images)

The Saudi government is looking to roll out an all purpose electronic identity card that will hold wide ranging information on each citizen, including their health records, driving licence and passport details, it was revealed on Sunday.

The plan has been drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior as part of beefed up security measures for the kingdom’s residents, according to unnamed sources commenting in an interview with Saudi daily the Saudi Gazette.

It follows Saturday’s roll out by the Civil Status Department in Riyadh of its new central national ID card, which holds each resident's information on one card that can be read through smart card reading machines at state-run facilities.

These include courts, police stations, airports, the Kingdom’s entry and exit points, schools, hotels, car rental offices, and insurance companies, but only healthcare centres will be able to view health records of the card’s holder, the sources said.

The cards will also allow people to carry out online transactions with government departments, including the Ministry of the Interior - a move intended to cut down the long queues of people inside government offices.

Holders of the new central electronic national ID will be able to update their national ID SIM card through self-service machines or online, the newspaper explained.

Applicants for the new cards must submit their information to their local civil status department, from where it will be sent to the National Information Centre.

Each new electronic national ID will be issued within 14 days, and will include a black and white photograph of the holder.

Once issued the new holder will be notified by SMS that the card is ready for collection.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Saudi to roll out 'all purpose' national ID cards
Posted by Tome de Souza, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 12 April 2009 at 09:24 UAE time


Wish this was properly planned here just like the Saudi government who has assured it would complete the full process within 14 days. As for me I have submitted my ID details for the past close to 3 months without any news but on inquiry I am advised that I would be informed. Hope this would not be after the end of the deadline period. Futher more since currently the card is only as an ID and eventully in the near future would be turned into a all purpose ID card, I have my doubts that we might not have to pay more to cover the additional burden we already have shouldered.

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM