Saudi Arabia renews visit identity cards for Yemenis

Cairo: Saudi authorities have started the electronic renewal of the visit identity cards for Yemenis residing in the kingdom for six months, local media reported.

The Saudi General Directorate for Passports in cooperation with the Interior Ministry’s National Information Centre embarked on renewing the IDs for Yemeni residents who have been regular in applying for renewal in implementation of related royal directives.

The directorate said that the renewal procedures will continue until Saturday November 7. The renewal will be conducted electronically after applicants pay the related fees without the need for them to show up in person, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Al Houthi rebels plunged the impoverished country into a devastating conflict in late 2014 when they toppled the internationally recognised government and overran the capital Sana’a, displacing many Yemenis. In 2015, an Arab coalition co-led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE started a military campaign in Yemen in response to its government.