RIYADH — Foreign husbands of Saudi women and their children who come to the Kingdom for Haj, Umrah or visit are entitled to regular residence permits (iqamas), Makkah daily reported quoting informed sources. A royal decree issued about two years and eight months ago gave the children of expatriate fathers and Saudi mothers the same rights as citizens in education, medical treatment and work. The sources pointed out that the decree, however, did not exempt the husbands from deportation after the expiry of their Haj, Umrah or visit visa. Under the new decision, foreign husbands of Saudi women can transfer their iqamas to their wives' names if they are residing in the Kingdom and can be sponsored by them to enter the country if they are staying abroad. The husbands are allowed to work for the private sector if they are holding valid passports, their marriages are formally approved by the concerned Saudi authorities and the marriage contracts officially documented. They said the husbands of Saudi women and their children were required to leave the country like all other expatriates when their Haj, Umrah or visit visa expires. The sources said the new decision has saved the husbands and their children from immediate deportation. They said under the new regulations, the husbands and their children would be considered full-fledged Saudi citizens in terms of Saudization quotas if they are employed by private companies and establishments. They said the government has directed the concerned authorities to apply the same rule to expatriate husbands married to Saudi mothers and their children who are already residing in the Kingdom.
