Permits issued by type (residence/ work) (Saudi Arabia, 1984-2011)

	Residence Permits (a)			Labour permits
	Workers	Accompanying Person	TOTAL
1984	757,858	45,001	802,859
1985	527,290	36,457	563,747
1986	542,005	49,256	591,261
1987	563,712	77,457	641,169
1988	555,581	59,971	615,552
1989	n.a.	n.a.	705,679
1990	651,566	98,846	750,412
1991	867,778	52,101	919,879
1992	1,006,639	55,666	1,062,305
1993	1,042,240	53,210	1,095,450
1994	759,602	7,641	767,243
1995	602,606	16,572	619,178
1996	897,915	64,320	962,235
1997	897,915	64,320	962,235
1998	826,010	50,266	876,276
1999	627,056	34,471	661,527
2000	729,900	36,003	765,903	2,439,672
2001	771,101	39,819	810,920	2,369,611
2002	984,775	31,376	1,016,151	2,663,666
2003	923,012	106,561	1,029,573	2,563,800
2004	849,960	29,301	879,261	2,716,573
2005	647,589	3,175	650,764	2,359,301
2006	849,658	234,988	1,084,646	2,541,083
2007	1,162,806	261,055	1,423,861	2,963,039
2008	1,365,937	275,159	1,641,096	3,598,317
2009	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	3,222,809
2010	1,402,558	237,033	1,639,591	3,345,630
2011	n.a.	n.a.	1,411,688	4,088,093

Sources: (a) General Directorate of Passports, Ministry of Interior; (b) Ministry of Labour

 

1. Data collection methodology

 

The issuance of the residency and work permits begins with filing an application with the Ministry of Labor.

After its approval, the Ministry of Labor forwards the application to the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of the residency permit.

 

2. Institution which provides data

 

(a) Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI), Ministry and Economy and Planning

(b) Ministry of Labour

 

3. Data availability

 

(a) Published in the CDSI’ Statistical Yearbooks, in Chapter “Social services”

Statistical Yearbooks until 2010′ are available online at: https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/46

2011′ Yearbook is available at: https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/46

Date of access: November 2013.

 

(b) Published in Ministry of Labour’s Statistical Yearbooks

MoL Yearbooks are available online at http://portal.mol.gov.sa/ar/Statistics/Pages/default.aspx (2004-2012, with labour permits figures since 2000)

Date of access: December 2013.