Saudi Arabia to Issue Travel Permits to Iraq through Absher

The first flight of Saudi Airlines to Baghdad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The first flight of Saudi Airlines to Baghdad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Issue Travel Permits to Iraq through Absher

The first flight of Saudi Airlines to Baghdad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The first flight of Saudi Airlines to Baghdad (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced that it would issue a travel permit to Iraq through the Absher platform without visiting its headquarters.

The Jawazat said that the travel permit would be issued in compliance with the terms and conditions.

The directorate explained that the service can be accessed through the beneficiary’s account on the Absher platform by choosing services from the list of my services (khidmati), selecting the Jawazat sector, then choosing the Tawasul service, submitting a new application, and specifying the type of request of “travel permits service to the exempted countries.”

After this, the applicant has to choose the sub-service “travel permit to the Republic of Iraq” and then select the location of the committee nearest to the applicant for obtaining the permit.

The applicant then writes a brief description of the request and attaches a copy of his national ID and the family card of the companions.

The Jawazat said that the permit form is available on the website of the Jawazat. A proof of residence approved by the neighborhood chief shall be attached with the request, the Jawazat statement added.

The new procedure comes from the significant growth of Saudi-Iraqi relations in the past years, in light of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council in 2017, which boosted trade exchange and cooperation and advanced relations between ties the two countries.

The Council aims to consult and coordinate on mutual interest issues and enhance cooperation between the two sides in various fields at the strategic level.

It also seeks to advance bilateral relations in various fields, including economic, development, security, investment, tourism, culture, and media, strengthen cooperation in important international and regional affairs, protect common interests, and develop the partnership between the private sectors in both countries.



Trump Arrives in Qatar after Historic Riyadh Visit

US President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump Arrives in Qatar after Historic Riyadh Visit

US President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump arrived in Doha on Wednesday on the second leg of his Gulf tour that he started in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

He was welcomed upon his arrival by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Meeting later at the Royal Palace in Doha, Trump and Sheikh Tamim signed economic and defense agreements.

The first had Qatar buying airplanes from Boeing, the American aerospace company whose chief executive attended the event. Trump said it was the largest order of jets in the company history, worth over $200 billion.

Next up was a defense deal and the purchase of military drones.

The final cooperation agreement was signed by Trump and Al Thani themselves.

Before departing to Doha, Trump sat down for a historic meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.

Trump said the rapprochement with Syria came at the urging of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” said Trump, who announced he'll move to lift sanctions on Syria to give the country “a chance at peace.”