DAMMAM — The Expatriate Affairs Office in Dammam has run out of capacity due to the increasing number of illegal expatriates, Al-Yaum reported. The office is awaiting a new building to move into from its current location on King Fahd Rd. Its current premises cannot be expanded due to its vicinity to a traffic hotspot and the Faisaliah residential district. A source from the Prison Directorate said the office was informed of a potential nine-month delay in the relocation for security reasons. The source said: “The Prison Directorate is working on expediting the security measures paperwork. “I also heard that the telecommunication lines, which are not yet installed, could be another reason for the delay. “The new building will accommodate 1,600 prisoners and is located next to Dammam Prison.” A security officer at Dammam Expatriate Affairs Office said the number of arrested illegal expatriates is constantly increasing. “Our biggest barrier is the language as there are often misunderstandings. “Sometimes we arrest expatriates to find out later on that they are not illegal and their papers are all in order. “The sponsor would then have to come to the office to receive the expatriate.” Eastern Province Prison Directorate Head Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Ruwaisan said there are new prisons built in Al-Khobar, Qatif, Jubail and Khafji, while another in Al-Ahsa is currently being planned. He said: “The directorate is currently building a recreational resort for prisoners so they will be able to blend in with society and become productive members after their release. “The resort will have its own hospital, Civil Defense office, seminar halls, and computer labs.”
