The Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) has blocked the iqama services of expats who have failed to register their fingerprints and that of their dependents, including children aged 6 and above.
Earlier, it was only mandatory for expat children aged above 15 to register their fingerprints.
Talal Al-Shalhoub, spokesman for the directorate, told Arab News on Tuesday that all the services, including renewal of iqama and exit-reentry, will be blocked until the expats complete the procedure. “The directorate had frequently called on residents to complete the required procedure. It has opened several offices inside malls and centers for the purpose.”
The system was introduced in a phased manner in November 2014 to allow women to exit and return and also change profession. It, however, became mandatory for all — expats and their dependents — in January 2015.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/902926