Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, the General Directorate of Passports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a new package of electronic services, including four high-quality services through the Ministry of Interior's e-services platform (Absher). This step comes as a continuation of the Kingdom's digital transformation journey and to enhance the efficiency of government services provided to citizens and residents.
Details of new services via Absher
The newly launched package includes vital services that address the needs of a wide range of beneficiaries, namely:
- Resident Photo Update Service: This service allows beneficiaries to update their personal photos in residency records electronically without needing to visit passport offices.
- Dependent Record Cancellation Service: To facilitate procedures related to organizing dependent records for residents.
- Dependent separation service: This service enables the head of the household to separate a dependent into an independent record upon reaching the legal age or a change in marital status.
- Absher Travel Service at Salwa Border Crossing: This service is a qualitative addition to facilitate the movement of travelers through the border crossing, which contributes to smoother traffic flow and reduced waiting times.
The context of digital transformation and Vision 2030
This launch cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The Ministry of Interior is a pioneer in implementing e-government concepts, achieving significant progress in automating procedures. These ongoing efforts aim to achieve a "paperless government," where all official transactions are conducted via digital platforms, reflecting the substantial technological advancements in the Kingdom's digital infrastructure.
Importance and expected impact
This event is of great importance on several levels:
- Locally: These services will contribute to easing the pressure on passport offices and saving time and effort for beneficiaries, which will raise the quality of life indicators, which is one of the goals of the national vision.
- Regionally: These steps enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading country in the field of smart government services in the Middle East region, especially with the activation of services such as “Absher Travel” at border crossings, which facilitates movement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Official statements
Commenting on the launch, the Acting Director General of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, affirmed that the introduction of these services is part of ongoing developments in electronic transactions. He indicated that the primary objective is to save time and effort, streamline bureaucratic procedures, and enhance the quality of passport services. He also emphasized the Directorate's commitment to providing smart solutions and a complete digital transformation to contribute to improving the efficiency of services offered to beneficiaries, in line with the aspirations of the wise leadership to provide distinguished government services.
