Many expatriate workers have expressed satisfaction with the newly enforced procedures at the traffic police departments, describing the system as “systematic, efficient and fast.”

The present system allows motorists to register their names online on the Ministry of Interior’s website (moi.gov.sa), pay the corresponding fee through the online banking system and then visit the traffic police department with an attestation that they have paid the sum due.

Eric P. Asi, an expatriate working as a supervising electrical engineer at a local firm, said that the new system eliminates red tape.

“Previously, we had to deal with native Arabic-speaking translators to help us fill out the forms to renew our driving license. This is no longer the case. The new procedures allows you to hand in your expired driving license to the officer at the designated window and then collect it a few minutes later,” said Asi.

Nour Nobi, a Bangladeshi working for a local firm, added that other services offered by the Ministry of Interior could be availed of through the same online procedure.

“I registered online with the Ministry of Interior when I applied for a visa for my dependent,” he said.

On the other hand, the new procedure has negatively impacted Arabic translators, as they now earn less because customers don’t have to rely on their assistance. One translator, who requested anonymity, said that he used to earn around SR500 translating for expatriates at the Malaz police station in Riyadh, but now only makes SR250. The cutback in the income of translators is also due to the large number of translators present at the traffic police station premises in comparison to the dwindling number of customers.