Government | Friday 3 April, 2015 9:30 am |

The Passport Department has plans to switch completely to electronic work from the traditional paperwork.
Speaking to the local media at the opening of new lounges for issuing and renewing Saudi passports at the new building in Riyadh, Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Yahya, director general of the Passport Department, said: “All departments will switch to electronic processing. This means that employees will no longer handle transactions. Employees will only direct the customers concerning the procedures and ensure that they are carried out correctly.”
He urged all citizens and residents to take advantage of the new technology and to cooperate with the Passport Department employees by providing correct and complete information.
Al-Yahya made it plain that he wants to achieve the best possible service, noting that the department’s ambitions are ongoing and that what has been achieved represents only a small part of the needs of citizens and expatriates.

“The number of customers and clients personally coming to the Passport Department has dropped significantly due to electronic procedures,” he said, and noted that there were still some individuals who preferred not to conduct their business electronically.
“I hope the time will come when people will not come in person to passport offices. I hope to see them using the service of the Saudi Post which is called Wasel,” he said.
Al-Yahya emphasized the directions issued by Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif which are to serve people at their locations, mainly those with special needs and older people who can call the department and then the passport teams can go and provide them with the services they require. He noted Prince Mohammed’s directions to switch fully to electronic dealings.
He said the electronic service was available for all persons who have a national identification document. “For children, there are other procedures covered by the civil registry. In addition, their personal photos should be filed at the Interior Ministry. The ministry intends to have files for the photos of all children so that they can be served electronically,” he said.
Al-Yahya said the media had a key role in raising awareness among people on the advantages of electronic services and that they should register in order to benefit. He noted the other services offered by 992, obtainable by either calling the number or sending a text message.

“The public at large, including visually impaired persons, can be directed on how to proceed with the service and its requirements. The department has so many capabilities with the support it gets from the leadership and rulers of the country,” he explained.
Riyadh Passport Department Director Brig. Gen. Suleiman bin Abdur Rahman Al-Suhaibani said the opening of the new lounges, which will issue and renew Saudi passports, is part of the plan to offer better services to citizens in and around Riyadh.
Al-Suhaibani said one of the lounges will receive the application for issuing and renewing passports. The other will receive passports completed either through the traditional way or through the electronic service, called Abshir.

“The widening of service is to keep pace with the increasing demand for Saudi passports, and speed in using electronics to issue and renew them,” said Al-Suhaibani.
The new lounges contain 20 counters. At each counter, a device has been installed to assess the performance of the employee.