Saudi Arabia: Information on a Saudi passport with a duration of less than a year without reference to a Saudi identity card number
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SAU22008.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Saudi Arabia: Information on a Saudi passport with a duration of less than a year without reference to a Saudi identity card number, 1 November 1995, SAU22008.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac2ac.html [accessed 22 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on this subject is scarce.
According to a letter sent to the DIRB on 6 November 1995 by the International Services Group (ISG) of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada,
A Saudi passport with a duration of one to two years should, in virtually all cases without an ID card number, mean that the holder is not a Saudi citizen.
For a copy of the letter, please refer to the enclosed attachment.
A professor at the University of Washington in Seattle and a researcher at the American Institute of Yemeni Studies stated that the secessionists from the Hadramaut region of Yemen received asylum and documents from Saudi Arabia authorities (26 Oct. 1995). People who received asylum and documents from Saudi Arabia were mainly the leaders of the Yemeni Socialist Party and Rabita Party (ibid.). The professor was unaware whether the Saudi documents provided the holders with citizenship, and whether the general membership of the Yemeni Socialist Party and Rabita Party were granted the same privileges as those offered to their leaders (ibid.).
According to a representative of Middle East Watch in New York, many Yemenis have worked in Saudi Arabia in the past (18 Oct. 1995). The Saudi authorities have provided travel documents to Yemeni workers from tribes faithful to the Saudi ruling family (ibid.). The representative was not able to provide the names of these tribes. The representative added that many Saudi citizens are of Yemeni descent (ibid.).
The Assistant-Director of the Institut de recherche et d'études sur le mondes arabe et musulman (IREMAM) in Aix-en-Provence, France, and specialist on Yemen, stated that Saudi authorities issued Saudi documents to Yemeni bedouin tribes living on the borders between the two countries (16 Oct. 1995). The source was not able to provide the names of these tribes. The source stated that the Saudi authorities used this method to extend their influence inside Yemen (ibid.). The source added that during his trips to Yemen, he often encounters Yemenis tribesmen holding Saudi passports and having Saudi licence plates on their car (ibid.). Saudi authorities provided these tribes with money, arms, cars and other material benefits (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Department of Political Science, University of Washington, Seattle. 26 October 1995. Telephone interview with professor.
Institut de recherche et d'études sur le mondes arabe et musulman (IREMAM), Aix-en-Provence, France. 16 October 1995. Telephone interview with the Associate-Director.
International Services Group (ISG), Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Canada. 6 November 1995. Letter sent to the DIRB.
Middle East Watch, New York. 18 October 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
