Saudi Gazette report

 

JEDDAH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) inaugurated its new office at Red Sea Mall in Jeddah in order to improve and increase the provision of electronic services for citizens and residents.



The inauguration was held under the patronage of Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Alwoterki, Jawazat's deputy director general and general manager of the Western Region.



The ceremony was attended by a group of National Information Center officials and a number of journalists.



This office is the third in Jeddah after the Jawazat opened its latest office at Serafi Megamall.



Alwoterki said: “Passport offices at commercial centers offer a variety of services to members from the issuance of exit-reentry visas, final exit, and residence card issuance and renewal of iqamas (work and residence permits) for household labor only.”



The Red Sea Mall branch is the only one in shopping centers that has a female section.



The office offers flexible opening hours Saturday to Wednesday, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Thursdays and Fridays, it is open in the evening.



Alwoterki said: “This step comes within the strategy of the General Directorate of Passports, which seeks to shorten the time and effort dispensing services dedicated to citizens and residents close to their whereabouts in all regions in the Kingdom, following the success of the previous opening of a number of such offices at commercial centers.”



Mohammad Alawi, CEO of Red Sea Markets Company, operator of Red Sea Mall, expressed delight that the directorate had chosen the mall to host one of the Jawazat offices.



“We are confident that this step constitutes a significant boost to the mall and increases the diversity provided not only to visitors, but also to the mall workers,” Alawi said.