Saudi Shura Council approves 'green-card' residency scheme for expats

Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, a quasi-parliament, has approved a plan for introducing a Green Card-style residence system for foreigners aimed at attracting investors, Saudi media reported. The new ‘privileged' iqama (residency permit) law will seek to provide "highly-skilled" and "qualified" foreigners residency without the need for a Saudi sponsor. Under the law, the holder of such an iqama will have family status, can recruit workers, own property and transport in the kingdom, can obtain visit visas for relatives, can freely enter and exit the country and will also have the use of ...