The Saudi and Bahrain authorities are holding talks to have one checkpoint each on either side of the King Fahd Causeway to reduce time taken for travel procedures by 50 percent, according to the Passport Department. Ahmad Al-Luhaidan, spokesperson for the Passport Department, told local media recently that the Saudi checkpoint would be removed for those entering Bahrain. Travelers would only have to pass through the Bahrain checkpoint.

Similarly, the Bahraini checkpoint would be canceled for those wanting to enter Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi side would introduce the project soon on a trial basis, followed by the Bahrain side later, he said.

The Ministry of Interior, the National Center for Information and the passports department would handle the project, including information transfers, he said.

Luhaidan said that extensive studies have been undertaken to unify passport procedures on the causeway.

"Once the Saudi checkpoint is canceled to enter Bahrain, employees working there will either support the existing staff, or be transferred to other posts,” he said.

The proposal is similar to the successful experience involving travelers between the United Arab Emirates and Oman, which greatly reduced waiting times. The Saudi Interior Ministry has studied this system.

The Saudi Customs Department announced earlier that it intends to unify procedures between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with an electronic system, which would also apply to other Gulf nations.

Eisa Al-Eisa, adviser to the director of the Customs Department, said earlier that the project would be implemented soon, and would help to reduce waiting times.