RIYADH, Nov 2: Saudi Arabia would begin fingerprinting people living in the kingdom randomly on a trial basis from Saturday, the Saudi press reported. The new measure was aimed at detecting passport violators and criminals and ensuring they did not return once deported.

More than six million foreigners are working in Saudi Arabia. In addition, it receives almost five million. Half of those visiting on Haj or Umrah visa often overstay, remaining illegally once their visa has expired and then they start searching for employment. Some of these violators also return to the country on a new passport after being deported when caught without proper documents.

Gen Salem Al-Bulaiheed, director general of the Passport Department, told the Arab News that the fingerprinting system would benefit Saudi Arabia. “There have been a number of criminal cases that were discovered early by implementing the system, including an Asian gang that was arrested in relation to a major robbery,” he said.

“If the experiment is successful and no technical changes are required then the system will be implemented on all foreigners arriving in the Kingdom whether for Umrah or for Haj,” Al-Bulaiheed said.

He said that the new system was an advanced one that was used to identify individuals through computers showing information about the person whose fingerprint had been taken and his country of origin.