JEDDAH: Absher, the interactive online platform provided by the Saudi Interior Ministry, served 18.3 million users in the past year, according to ministry statistics.
Since its launch in 2009/2010 it has answered 1.2 billion queries from registered users, at a rate of 120 million queries a year, the figures reveal. It was also used to perform 300 million transactions, approximately 30 million a year.
The online Absher service was introduced to increase productivity and promote more efficient work practices within government departments, while raising customer satisfaction levels. A smartphone app was added in 2015.
The platform provides access to 280 services provided by the Ministry of Interior to users in three categories: Individuals, business and government. It can be used to apply for jobs and Hajj permits, update passport information, make appointments, renew IDs and drivers’ licenses, register vehicles and pay traffic fines, among many other things. The services its provides are available to residents as well as
citizens; they can use it to renew residency permits and apply for visas, for example.
Absher is credited with improving life in Saudi Arabia by making it much easier for citizens and residents to interact with government departments to obtain information and complete required procedures and paperwork from the comfort of their own homes.
It has also made it easier for people to resolve potentially serious and costly problems.
For example, father-of-five Abdul Aziz Hazmi, was in the UK for a work assignment three years ago while two of his daughters remained in Jeddah. They were due to visit him when a problem cropped up at the airport.
“Back then they needed my permission on the app to travel back and forth, and without Absher they wouldn’t have been able to come and visit us,” he said. “I thought I’d already set those travel options for them when I did it for their siblings, but one of my daughters called me before boarding the plane panicking about not being allowed on.”
Hazmi told his daughter not to worry and reassured her that he would sort the problem out through the Absher app. Sure enough, four minutes later the girls were able to board the flight.
“Though they don’t need that service anymore, Absher still saves a lot of time and energy,” said Hazmi. “Renewing our national IDs and passports is the best feature. I used to dread the crowds at the application centers. I’d have to excuse myself for an entire day from work just to get my passport renewed.”
Waad Baleegh, a 24-year-old from Jeddah, also likes the fact that Absher streamlines and speeds up the provision of services such as the renewal of ID cards.
“I book my appointments through the app and print everything beforehand, and when I go to receive my new ID card there’s very little communication,” she said. “It gets things done so swiftly and easily.”
The Interior Ministry is participating this week in GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, where they are showcasing Absher, which was the first e-government platform in the Kingdom.
The ministry’s plans include the further development of e-government services into a “smart government” system that uses the power of artificial intelligence to help achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
18m used Saudi Arabia’s Absher services last year
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18m used Saudi Arabia’s Absher services last year
- The platform provides access to 280 services provided by the Ministry of Interior
Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture
- Ahmed Al-Mojathel: Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system
- Initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society
ABHA: A public awareness campaign by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture kicked off Organic Food 2024 in Saudi Arabia, reported Saudi Press Agency.
Ahmed Al-Mojathel, director of the ministry’s Asir branch, said: “Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system.
“We are working to enhance consumer awareness about the benefits of organic foods while encouraging innovation and excellence in organic product quality.”
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society.
Al-Mojathel said the campaign also aimed to achieve economic and social objectives supporting the development of the organic food sector across the Kingdom.
Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport
- 9 people arrested, including Ministry of Interior employee, 4 people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker
RIYADH: A drug smuggling operation at Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia, in which several government and other public-sector officials allegedly were involved, has been shut down following an extensive investigation.
An official source at the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that nine people were detained, including a ministry employee, four people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and one from the Saudi Electricity Company.
Their alleged roles in the smuggling network included helping to get the drugs into the Kingdom, ensuring shipments bypassed inspections, transporting them, and concealing them in homes and at other locations.
They also engaged in the promotion and distribution of the narcotics in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The amount and type of drugs involved was not immediately apparent.
The Ministry of Interior said it remains committed to confronting all threats to national security and will take stringent action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety and stability of the country.
Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians
- MusiqAI offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments
RIYADH: The Saudi Music Commission has launched an interactive digital platform to teach music to enthusiasts wanting to start playing an instrument or further their musical knowledge.
MusiqAI is the first self-learn digital platform for music in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region. It offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments.
The platform name, which includes “AI,” the abbreviation for artificial intelligence, can be translated from Arabic as “My Music.”
The commission said in a statement that MusiqAI offers online courses and trains enthusiasts and professionals on the latest technologies in music production. It also provides accredited certificates, easy access to video streaming courses, and a self-paced learning experience, anytime and from anywhere.
MusiqAI aims to offer a unique way of learning various music genres — in Saudi Arabia and globally — whether by picking an Arabic or Western instrument such as the drums, guitar or oud, and communicating with trainers and experts on the platform.
The commission said nurturing and supporting musical talent are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. In March, the commission launched the Saudi Music Memory initiative to highlight the history of Saudi art and offer academically documented research for musicians and researchers.
To register on the MusiqAI platform, visit the commission website: https://music.moc.gov.sa/en
OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute
- It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute
- Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds
JEDDAH: The general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts in Jeddah on Thursday.
It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute, in accordance with the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said that the meeting was held amid difficult and harsh humanitarian circumstances that required concerted efforts and collective action to adopt actions to help contain humanitarian crises and hardships.
In his speech, Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds, undertake the necessary reforms to their working mechanism and support them with the financial resources to enable them to fulfil their role.
The statement delivered by assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, on behalf of OIC’s secretary-general, highlighted the significant challenges faced by member states in the humanitarian field.
KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan
- KSrelief will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies
KABUL: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has launched a shelter project for people returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan and victims of the 2024 floods.
It will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies across the provinces of Kabul, Ghazni, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Herat, Nimroz, Nangarhar and Laghman. The project will help 29,292 people.
The scheme is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.