Saudi Arabia’s Directorate General of Passports said it had started the process of extending the iqamas of foreigners for three months without any fee.

Earlier, the Saudi government had announced the decision to extend the period of iqamas because of the curfew and lockdown imposed in the Kingdom.

In this connection, Directorate General of Passports in a statement said the move would be applicable to those foreigners working in private sector whose iqama period had ended or will end after March 18 and by June 30, notwithstanding the fact that they are in or outside the Kingdom.

All such foreigners would be informed individually about the extension through a text message.

According to the statement, the decision is an attempt on the part of the Saudi government to address the financial and economic problems.

The Kingdom has already various measures to minimise the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic on private organisations and economic activities.