The Saudi General Directorate of Passports announced the launch of a comprehensive campaign all over the country to look for overstaying pilgrims, who have no intention in returning home.
According to Col. Badr Almalik, directorate spokesman, the number of overstaying pilgrims has recently decreased to a large extent.
Col. Aidh Allogmani also urged citizens and residents to cooperate with directorate officials in reporting the presence of illegal immigrants.
The highest percentage of overstaying pilgrims are Yemini and from countries in Africa, followed by Asians, especially Indonesians and Bangladeshis.
Officials have called for the increased monitoring of the Saudi-Yemeni border, which stretches along more than 1,600 km.
The presence of illegal immigrants is considered an increasing threat in residential areas. Mohammed Alsharif, a resident of Alhusainiya, said that hundreds of illegal immigrants roam around the streets of his district, and families are starting to feel unsafe. Alsharif added that his car was wrecked, and he filed a complaint against an unknown individual.
Security agencies report that illegal immigrants are involved in various violations against Saudi laws such as, alcohol and drug dealing, prostitution, theft, smuggling and violent robbery.
Almalik said the General Directorate of Passports is not responsible for border controls as they have no jurisdiction or authority in stopping illegal immigrants entering the Kingdom from Yemen or any country. They only handle matters within Saudi territory.
According to Almalik, GDP deals with illegal immigrants and expats who fail to renew their iqama (residency permit). He added that an extensive patrolling plan was under way to monitor the presence of illegal immigrants.
Mahmoud Kisnawi, an academic researcher in Um Al-Qura University, said that overstaying usually increases after the completion of Umrah in Ramadan and the Haj season. Therefore, committees from the Ministry of Haj, governorates, the directorate of passport controls, the deportation department and the police all work together to resolve this issue. “A study demonstrates how illegal immigrants are dangerous to society economically, socially and in terms of security. Thus the research team hopes that Saudi officials and society will avail themselves of the recommendations, which aim to solve this chronic issue,” said Kisnawi.
Campaign to find overstayers in Makkah launched
Campaign to find overstayers in Makkah launched
Netflix concludes ‘Family Movie Night Experiences’ across the Kingdom
- Every event was free and open to the public with prior registration, with each community event set in a living room feel with themed games and creative zones
DAMMAM: Families across three cities in Saudi Arabia left their devices at home and ventured out for in-person Netflix events.
The first event was held in Riyadh on Dec. 4, followed by Abha on Dec. 12 and finally, in Dammam on Friday.
Arab News spoke to two families who attended and expressed gratitude for the experience.
A native of India who has called Saudi Arabia home for the last 13 years, Nithya VijayaBhaskar was excited to return to the park after having not visited since COVID time.
“Today the climate is too cool, but they kept the heaters,” she told Arab News. “They have wonderful, wonderful seating arrangements and free popcorn for kids and so many games.
“I’m standing in the queue right now — it’s a long queue because people are very excited about it. It’s a 10 out of 10 experience.”
Her daughter, Boomika, 11, told Arab News that while she’s seen the film before, watching it outdoors with friends — and strangers — was a completely new and welcomed experience.
“I really like this event; it has so many activities. I’m in the line for face-painting now,” she said.
Her father, VijayaBhaskar Mohan, added: “This is the first time we are experiencing such a thing in the Eastern Province, and Netflix has organized it very, very well, and they have considered many things about the parents, the children, the elderly — I am really amazed.
“And even though it’s a very cold weather, it is amazingly that in the open area, I feel very comfortable.”
Their friends, the Shetty family, joined them.
“The location is really good and the park seems really nice,” 10-year-old Shreyan Shetty said.
His mother, Deepti Laxman, liked that the children were out and about — not glued to their devices at home on a day off from school.
“We got a reference from one of our friends (the VijayaBhaskar family), we are huge fans of Netflix — and they said ‘Netflix is coming, let’s go!’ We live a 20-minutes drive away.
“We’re really enjoying. The ambience is good. And people are really happy. They should do more of these activities here,” Laxman said.
Her husband, Shivaraj Shetty, enjoyed the overall experience but had one piece of feedback for the Netflix team on the ground: “Probably they can plan it a month earlier next time; it’s very chilly, cold air. Maybe they should make it in October.”
The family movie nights organized by the streaming giant centered on togetherness and the joy of shared entertainment.
Every event was free and open to the public with prior registration, with each community event set in a living room feel with themed games and creative zones where children and parents could gather around and connect.
On the night of the Dammam event at Life Park, previously known as King Fahd Park, temperatures dropped but enthusiasm was high. There were two showings of a children’s film, one at 6 pm and one at 9 pm.
The large screen played a children’s film in Arabic with English subtitles.
The lines to enter were long but the team managed to add more seating and accommodate every interested visitor.
Huddled in distributed blankets, families sat and sipped Saudi coffee and either watched the movie or kept their hands warm by doing things such as assembling the puzzle given as a gift on the tables provided.
To the side were various activities and plenty of snacks.
There was also a spot dedicated to guiding guardians on parental control options within their logged-in Netflix accounts, so streaming could be even safer for young viewers.
