Passport office working hours during Ramadan 1447 AH and electronic services

The General Directorate of Passports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the official working hours for its various departments and branches across the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH. This announcement reflects the Directorate's commitment to regulating operations in a manner befitting the spirituality of the holy month, while ensuring the continued provision of high-quality services to citizens and residents.

Digital transformation and the priority of e-services

In line with the Kingdom's overall drive towards digital transformation under Vision 2030, the General Directorate of Passports urged all beneficiaries to make the most of available digital solutions. It emphasized that the majority of services can be completed electronically through the Ministry of Interior's platforms (Absher and Absher Business) and the Muqeem portal, eliminating the need for in-person visits. This approach not only saves time and effort but also helps alleviate congestion at branches during Ramadan hours, thus creating a more efficient working environment for cases requiring in-person attendance.

Details of branch working hours during Ramadan

The Passports Department clarified that work in branches that require receiving visitors will be carried out according to a flexible schedule that takes into account fasting and worship times, and the times were detailed as follows:

• Riyadh:
  • The Passports Department of Al-Rimal District: It operates in two shifts; the morning shift from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the evening shift from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM, throughout the week (from Sunday to Thursday), with the evening shift continuing throughout the week.
  • The passport office at Qasr Al-Hukm station receives visitors from Sunday to Thursday in two shifts; the first from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and the second from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am.
• Jeddah Governorate:
  • The passport offices at Al-Serafi Mall and Al-Tahlia Mall have set their working hours from Sunday to Thursday, with the first period starting from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM, and the evening period from 9:00 PM until 1:00 AM.
• The rest of the regions and governorates of the Kingdom:
  The official working hours in the rest of the passport offices will be unified from Sunday to Thursday, starting from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.

"Tawasul" service to resolve technical obstacles

Recognizing the importance of technical support, the General Directorate of Passports highlighted the significance of the "Tawasul" service available through the Absher platform. This service allows users to submit requests to address any technical issues or problems that may hinder the implementation of electronic services, thus eliminating the need for users to visit branches to resolve routine procedural matters and enhancing the efficiency of remotely provided services.

The importance and impact of time management

This annual adjustment of working hours is a vital measure to ensure a balance between work life and religious observances during the holy month. Dividing work into morning and evening shifts in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah helps accommodate the increased demand for services, especially from residents and visitors, reflecting the flexibility of the Kingdom's public sector and its ability to adapt to seasonal changes to serve the public interest.