Saudi Arabia launches new e-passport

Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif has launched on Thursday a new electronic passport for Saudi citizens.

Maj. Gen.Khaled Al-Sikhan, assistant director-general of the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) for technical affairs, said that the new electronic passport is a turning point in the transition phase from the readable passport to the electronic one.

The new electronic passport was designed with the highest modern security specifications, Al-Sikhan confirmed, noting that it is compatible with the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements.
 

The new Saudi electronic passport is characterized by changes in its details and content, such as a change in its external color and a change in the security features. Also, it includes an encrypted data chip to protect data security.

Al-Sikhan added that the electronic passport's data card contains the passport holder's information, three photos with different technologies, and the possibility of digitally verifying the passport through digital portals.

The identity of the Kingdom has been included in all pages of the electronic passport by placing drawings of all the vital tourism attractions in the Kingdom.

Citizens can now obtain the new passport by the usual way to request a passport until the readable passport is stopped during the transitional phase, Al-Sikhan confirmed