Foreign Ministry opens Buraidah branch office

The Saudi Foreign Ministry has opened a branch office in Qassim to meet growing demand for services from residents of the region.
Residents and business organizations in the region previously had to travel to the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh for their work.
The office will handle attestation and other consular services starting Thursday in the first phase, which will later be expanded to cover other services. The business and expatriate community has welcomed the opening of the Foreign Ministry office.
Faisal bin Abdul Karim Qamis, the Qassim Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (QCCI) secretary general, said, “The opening of the Foreign Ministry office in the region will further bolster economic and development activities in the region.”
He thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal and Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar for their support.
Omar Balindong, a prominent Philippine community leader in Buraidah, said: “The expatriate community will save time and money since they will no longer have to travel to Riyadh. Hundreds of Filipino expatriates visit Riyadh every day for services that are now available in Buraidah itself.”
Iqbal Pallimukku, a leading Indian community leader, said: “The opening of the branch comes as a relief, as expatriates will now be able to obtain visit and family visas.”
The office is located in the QCCI building at the center of Buraidah city. It is also near the Passport office.
The Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry has offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, with the Qassim office being the fourth branch in the Kingdom.