Saudi Arabia introduced a new ‘Resident ID’ system that replaces the old annual residency renewal routine with a single card for five years and a simplified online workflow. Officials and local media say the measure will dramatically reduce visits to passport and residence offices for more than 13 million residents, shorten wait times and move most transactions to Absher/e-services platforms.
Why does the 5 year old Saudi Resident ID matter?
The main advantage is practical: instead of renewing an Iqama every year (and standing in long lines), residents receive a card that is valid for five years and is renewed digitally via Absher. Reports estimate that this will eliminate tens of millions of annual visits to government counters and save households and the economy significant time and costs. Fees quoted in local reporting estimate the one-off five-year cost to be approximately SAR 500 for adults and SAR 600 for domestic workers, replacing repeated annual payments.
Absher: Saudi Arabia’s digital government platform
Absher is Saudi Arabia’s official digital platform that allows residents and citizens to access government services without visiting physical offices. It is managed by the Ministry of the Interior and connects more than 350 services from different government agencies in one place.Through Absher, users can renew residence permits, update personal information, pay government fees, book appointments, track applications, and receive official documents via registered postal addresses. It works across the web and mobile apps, and each user has a secure digital profile tied to his or her identity.Absher has become one of the most important tools for Saudi Arabia’s digital government. It processes millions of transactions every day and reduces paperwork, queues and in-person visits. The new Resident ID system relies on Absher as the primary portal for issuing, renewing and managing the five-year ID, making the process completely online and significantly faster.
How does the new system work?
The rollout is linked to Saudi’s digital services: applicants can apply for and manage Resident ID through Absher and related government platforms. The new ID is designed to work as a trusted digital identity (usable in transactions and verifications), and authorities ask residents to register a postal address through the postal service “Wasil”/“Wasil Digital” (Waṣil) so that official documents and the physical card are delivered reliably. The Ministry of Interior’s e-services page has long supported the electronic issuance and renewal of resident documents; the new plan makes that the standard.
Bigger picture
This monumental policy change isn’t just about convenience; it is a core pillar of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030. The comprehensive strategy aims to modernize the government structure and transform the Kingdom into a global digital leader. By eliminating the time-consuming annual renewal cycle, the government expects to reduce an astonishing 65 million annual visits to government offices over the next five years. This reduction in red tape translates directly into enormous economic gains. Experts predict that the new electronic system will save the national economy more than 2.6 billion Saudi riyals by dramatically reducing wasted time and increasing overall productivity. Dr. Khalid, a digital government expert, praised the change, describing it as a “qualitative leap, like moving from using copper coins to adopting bank cards.“
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