A Passports Department (Jawazat) officer in Saudi national dress mans an immigration counter at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday. As per the directives of Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Passports Department officers will wear the traditional thobe instead of military uniform. The national dress consists of the traditional thobe, ghutra (headscarf) and iqal (black head ribbon) with black shoes and black socks. Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Yahya, Director General of Passports, launched the “Hayyaak” (Greetings) service at King Khaled International Airport on Sunday. The objective behind the change in dress code is the motivation to promote the Saudi identity, spokesperson for Passports Department Lt. Col. Ahmed Al-Luhaidan was quoted as saying in a section of the Arabic press. — Okaz photo
