Reporting damage to air rifle licenses via Absher: Steps

As part of the Saudi Ministry of Interior's ongoing efforts to streamline government procedures and save time and effort for citizens and residents, the General Directorate of Public Security has launched a distinguished electronic service that allows users to report lost or damaged air rifle licenses immediately via the Absher platform. This service completely eliminates the need to visit the headquarters and branches of the General Directorate of Weapons and Explosives, representing a significant leap forward in the provision of digital government services in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Steps to report damage to air rifle licenses via Absher

To benefit from this service and complete the reporting process easily, beneficiaries can follow the following electronic steps:

• Log in to the Ministry of Interior's electronic portal, "Absher Individuals Platform".
• From the main menu, select the “My Services” tab.
• Click on the “Public Security” option from the list of available services.
• Choose the “Report Lost or Damaged Airgun License” service.
• Click the “Start Service” icon to go to the actions page.
• Select the weapon in question from the list of weapons registered in your name.
• Fill in all the required information in the application form accurately.
• Review the entered data to ensure its accuracy, then click on “Place Order”.

Historical background and digital transformation in security services

The Absher platform was established as a cornerstone of digital transformation in Saudi Arabia. Over the past years, it has successfully converted hundreds of traditional services that previously required in-person visits to government offices and long queues into digital services accessible with the click of a button. Regulating the possession of firearms and air rifles, including issuing, renewing, and reporting their damage, is now done electronically as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance cybersecurity and digitize government services. Previously, obtaining firearm licenses involved complex paperwork and multiple visits to security departments; today, these processes are characterized by the highest levels of security, speed, and transparency.

The security and societal importance of regulating air rifle licenses

These digital services have significant security and social dimensions at both the local and regional levels. Locally, digitizing gun and air rifle licenses contributes to creating an accurate and continuously updated database for security agencies, thus reducing the illegal or indiscriminate use of these weapons and maintaining public safety. It also contributes to improving administrative efficiency and reducing the workload on field personnel.

At the regional and international level, the Saudi experience in digitizing security services through the “Absher” platform provides a model to be emulated in managing government resources and applying digital governance standards, which enhances the Kingdom’s ranking in the United Nations indicators for e-government development.