A resident identity card, also known as the “Iqama,” will be given to you if you are a new resident in Saudi Arabia and will serve as your proof of identity as a legal citizen of the nation.
The card, which is issued by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, contains some crucial information about your identification and place of residence. The name and Iqama number of the cardholder are both listed in Arabic and English, even though most of the information is in Arabic.
Here is what is written on your card:
- Full name in English – The first line of information on the card is your full name in English.
- Full name in Arabic – Your full name is written in Arabic directly below.
- Arabic Iqama number – The Arabic Iqama number is the third piece of information. You can check your Iqama number in English if you can’t understand Arabic by looking under the barcode on the left.
- Your Iqama ID version – shows how many times it has been issued. The number below will be “1” if this is your first time receiving an Iqama. The number under this area will be displayed as “2” when you obtain your new identity card at the time of renewal.
- Place of the issue – Typically, this line will state if the card was issued electronically.
- Date of issue – This will display the Iqama’s issue date according to the Hijri calendar.
- Date of birth – The Gregorian calendar will be used to determine your birthdate.
- Profession
- Nationality
- Religion
- Name of employer
- Iqama number in English – You may find the Iqama number in English on the left side of the card, below your portrait, and a barcode.