The first of Rajab: Saudis' journey from queues to digital prosperity

first of Rajab holds more than just an annual date in the Saudi collective memory; it symbolizes an entire generation of fathers and grandfathers whose birth dates were unified by the Civil Status Department due to the lack of accurate birth records at that time. Today, this generation, often referred to as the "Golden Generation," celebrates its unified birth date while witnessing a historic transformation in lifestyles and services within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

From queues to smart apps

In commemoration of this anniversary, eyewitnesses recounted to Al-Youm newspaper the transformative shift they experienced, from the tedium of waiting in morning queues and relying on paper transactions to an era of speed and digital services. This transformation is a direct reflection of the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , which prioritizes digital transformation and quality of life, thus ending the era of traditional bureaucracy.

Abdullah Balil affirmed that July 1st is a date that unites approximately 95% of the previous generation, describing it as "the sweetest date." Balil reminisced about the hardship of obtaining passports in the past, when it required waking up at dawn and standing for hours to get a waiting number. He contrasted this with the present reality, where official documents are delivered to one's doorstep by mail, a clear indication of the prosperity provided by the state.

Abdullah Balil

Goodbye to the "relationship file"

For his part, citizen Mohammed Al-Arayedh the spirituality and social significance of this holy month, while also noting the fundamental differences in the education sector. He recalled the difficulty of manually copying curricula and printing exams using a manual stencil machine, compared to today, where the educational process is managed through advanced digital platforms and computers, saving time and effort.

Ahmed Al-Masoud stressed that the current generation may not understand the suffering of carrying the “green file folder” and moving it between government departments under the sun, a scene that the Kingdom has replaced today with unified government applications such as “Absher” and “Tawakkalna”, which allow transactions to be completed with the click of a button.

Mohammed Al-Arayedh

Self-made establishment and technological renaissance

This transformation was not a coincidence, but rather the result of diligent work and a robust digital infrastructure. Citizen Saleh Al-Ghamdi that the ease of access to services today is the fruit of an ambitious vision that harnessed technology for the comfort of the citizen. Meanwhile, Dr. Awad Al-Ula that the first of Rajab is a badge of honor for a generation that built the nation through hard work and patience under difficult living conditions, paving the way for the prosperity we enjoy today.

The witnesses concluded their remarks with guidance messages for the youth, as citizen Abdulaziz Al-Khudair the new generation to invest these golden tools in creativity and self-building, stressing that the technological facilities were created to accelerate success and not just for entertainment, emphasizing the need to appreciate the blessing and preserve the nation’s gains.