Flexible working hours to serve citizens and residents
The General Directorate of Passports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the official working hours for its departments and branches throughout the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH. This annual announcement is part of the organization of workflow in government sectors to suit the special nature of the holy month and to ensure the continued provision of high-quality services to citizens and residents.
General context for adjusting working hours during Ramadan
Adjusting working hours during Ramadan is a long-standing tradition in Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries. This practice aims to ease the burden on fasting employees and help them balance their professional duties and religious observances. Government agencies, including the General Directorate of Passports, are keen to implement flexible schedules that serve the public and meet their urgent needs, particularly regarding passport issuance and renewal, exit and re-entry visas, travel permits, and residency services.
Details of working hours in the main branches
The General Directorate of Passports clarified that working hours will be divided into two shifts at some main branches to serve a larger number of visitors. Details of the schedule are as follows:
- Al-Rimal Passports Division (Riyadh): From 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Sunday to Thursday), and from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM (all days of the week).
- Passport Office of Qasr Al-Hukm (Riyadh): From 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Sunday to Thursday).
- The passport offices at Al-Serafi Mall and Al-Tahlia Mall (Jeddah): from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Sunday to Thursday).
Working hours in the rest of the passport offices
As for the rest of the passport offices in the various regions and governorates of the Kingdom, work will be during one period from Sunday to Thursday, starting from 10:00 am and continuing until 3:00 pm.
The shift towards digital services and its impact
The General Directorate of Passports emphasized the importance of everyone utilizing the electronic services available through the Ministry of Interior's digital platforms, "Absher" (Individuals and Businesses) and the "Muqeem" portal. These platforms allow users to complete most services without needing to visit branches, saving time and effort and aligning with the digital transformation goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Directorate also highlighted the importance of the "Tawasul" service available through the Absher platform, which enables users to address any issues or obstacles they may encounter while using services electronically, ensuring continuous operation around the clock.
