Saudi Arabia has expanded its Absher digital platform with new services that streamline government procedures for citizens and expatriates. The platform recently achieved a milestone of 28 million digital identities in December 2024.
Maj. Gen. Saleh Al Murabba, Chief of the Saudi Directorate of Passports, announced new features including digital identity verification for expatriates, photo upload capabilities for dependent passports, and enhanced national ID card management services.
Expatriate residents can now display digital identification details to authorities, update passport information, and submit photos for passport-related procedures through the platform.
Saudi citizens can access additional services including national ID card renewal, replacement of lost or damaged ID cards, educational qualification updates, and direct photo submissions through the application.
“The directorate continues to provide digital services via Absher to save time and effort, streamline procedures, and improve the quality of its services,” stated Maj. Gen. Al Murabba.
This enhancement reflects global trends in digital government services. A previous survey has shown strong citizen support for digital government services secured by biometric authentication.
The Saudi Interior Ministry introduced Absher in 2013 with basic government services. The platform now handles job applications, passport and residency renewals, and driving license management. Usage has grown substantially since the global pandemic, supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation initiatives.
The Directorate of Civil Affairs recommends all users check their Absher accounts via web or mobile platforms to review requirements for the newly implemented services.
Sources: newsable.asianetnews.com, gulfnews.com, propakistani.pk
–
February 13, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
