Saudi women must cover their hair and neck in ID photos

Gulf Today Report

The Saudi authorities have clarified that women in Kingdom have to cover their hair and necks in civil status ID card photos.

The clarification came after some people circulated false information in Saudi Arabia that women can show their hair or neck in civil status identification card photos.

Mohammed Al-Jasser, spokesman for the civil status department in Saudi Arabia, said that it is not true.

The Council of Ministers has approved the amendments to the regulation of the Civil Status system, nullifying article 17, which establishes that "it is mandatory" for women to cover their hair and neck in photos for civil status certificates and IDs.

He explained that only women between the ages of 10 and 14 can appear in ID photos with uncovered hair, though he added that older women with certain health conditions may also be eligible for the ID photo exemption.

On the other hand, the authorities said article 146 is modified to establish that the national identity document, printed or digital, must contain the following information:

—    Photo of the holder of the identity document
—    First name
—    Father's name
—     Grandfather's name and surname
—    Surname both in Arabic and English
—    Place of birth
—    Date of birth in Hijri and Gregorian format
—    Civil registration number
—    Expiration date of the identity document in Hijri and Gregorian format
—    Serial number of the copy of the identity document
—    Official logos and security features
—    Any data that the Ministry of Civil Status deems necessary to add or remove.