Absher, the Saudi interior ministry platform carrying the new border service

Background

Saudi Arabia's new entry service for land-border arrivals has been placed on the Absher app, so the platform itself is worth knowing. Absher was started by the Ministry of Interior in 2015. It carries government e-services for citizens and residents, such as booking appointments and renewing identity cards, passports, driving licences and vehicle registration. The new service on it, Absher Travel for Visitors, is open to GCC nationals and other visitors, and lets them finish entry steps and insure a vehicle before reaching the border. The ministry said the service would become mandatory within six months of the launch date. The ministry built the service with partners that include the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the General Directorate of Passports.