Saudi Arabia to issue five-year residency permits

Dubai, Nov 25: The validity of residency permits of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia is likely to be extended to five years, a media report said Tuesday. The directorate general of passports is giving final touches to the plan to introduce the five-year validity, Gulf News reported, adding that currently the permits are valid for one year. The report, however, said that no time frame has been announced for the move. The move is expected to ease financial pressure on the 2.8-million strong expatriate Indian community in the kingdom.