Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s promise that compensation would be paid was being honored in a very public and open-handed manner at the city’s main payment center.

Responding to the thousands of national ID and iqama (residence permits) numbers listed in the Arabic press, claimants were arriving daily for the payout sessions at the Abrug Al-Rughama (the government cultural center) east of Haramain Expressway.

“I find this whole exercise quite incredible,” said one successful Western claimant, who preferred to remain anonymous. “The king made a promise and here it is a few weeks later actually happening. I can’t think of another country where this would happen. The man is as good as his word and you can’t say better than that.”

Given the complexity of the paperwork behind the claims, the sums involved and the large number of claimants, the speed with which payments were being confirmed and formalized was remarkable.

Over a four-hour period on Tuesday morning individuals were being processed at the extraordinary average rate of one every 22 seconds.

To meet the heavy demand, doors to the center open at 6.30 a.m. with staff ready for the crowds. However, instead of the turmoil that might be expected at the distribution of quite considerable sums of money, the whole exercise through some thoughtful organization is proving a controlled and courteous operation.

“I have on occasions had to visit government offices to sort out paperwork on a personal basis,” said the claimant. “The process here is light years from the scrummage I would normally have expected.”

He thought the center itself was part of the reason for the measured pace of the process. “Using a large and pleasant auditorium with comfortable seating is part of it,” he said. “Perhaps more important is the sensible numbering system, adherence to that system and the team on the stage on display to the public and clearly working hard to get through the load.”

While many wondered if they would ever be compensated, French hydrologist Dr. Jean-Yves Mevel had always been optimistic about the outcome of the stressful time surrounding the floods.

“The early phase of the process, organizing the claim, was a bit confusing for non-Arabic speaking such as me, but good Saudi friends came across and helped start the paperwork through the right people at the Civil Defense.”  He observed that as time progressed, organization of the claims process improved as the experience within the government staff prevailed.

“During the final stage, the remittance of the check, we had the best example and one to be followed by all businesses in Saudi Arabia.”

Mevel said the numbering system avoided any confusion, rushing and pushing in the waiting queues and demonstrated that with the use of simple technology, everybody could be calm, respectful and patient in a crowded situation.

“This should be the beginning of a new era in Saudi Arabia where crowds can be civilized when properly managed with a smile behind the desk and a simple numbering system making life easier on both sides of the counter.”

On Tuesday, the five- or six-man payout team worked solidly the whole morning and with just one short break. Their calm dedication to the task at hand was manifested in the short pertinent questions they asked, rapid crosschecking of official identity documents with the payment list and the issue of a claim receipt. Fewer than 20 minutes after this was completed, the check, sometimes for a very considerable sum and physically signed by officials on the stage next to the processing clerks, was handed over.

Officials could not confirm exactly how long the center would remain open for the collection of claims. Updated lists of ID and iqama numbers ready for payment appear regularly in the Arabic press.