RIYADH, 2 May — The civil status department will issue a new family card to citizens replacing the current family register by early next year.
Nasser Hamad Al-Hanaya, assistant undersecretary for civil status affairs at the Interior Ministry, said the new cards will be smaller in size like the social status card and carry the names of head of the family and 18 members.
If the family is bigger, a second card with additional names will be issued.
The new card, 8.5 cm x 5.5 cm in dimension, will have a maganetized photograph of the card owner. The old register was 23 cm x 10 cm.
Al-Hanaya said the card will be difficult to forge and tamper with. Unlike the old card, it will retain the father’s name even after a son or daughter marries.
But the card will indicate that the son has a new card or that the daughter’s name has been added to her husband’s card.
