Half-Saudi children will enjoy same rights as Saudis

Children born to expatatriates, who have married Saudi women, will be treated as Saudis for work, education and medical purposes, Sulaiman Al-Yahya, director-general of Saudi Arabia's passports department said.

They can also reside in the country and will be allowed to work in the private sector without transferring their residency permits, Arab News reported Thursday.

The statement was issued after several half-Saudis, especially girls on their mother's sponsorship, expressed fear of deportation following the death of their mothers, the report said.

"These privileges are contingent upon the approval of the original marriage contract and the children being in possession of IDs," Al-Yahya was quoted as saying.

"This decision comes in accordance with a decree issued by the council of ministers in 2012," he said.

"Expatriates children who had transferred their sponsorships onto their mothers following this decision and prior to their mother's death will be treated as Saudis," he said.

"Expatriates who had not transferred their sponsorships prior to their mother's death will, however, remain under the sponsorship of their companies until a decision is issued by a jurisdictive body," he added.

Half-Saudis are also included in nationalisation quotas in the private sector.

Expatriates married to Saudi women can also reside in the country on their wives' sponsorship provided the original marriage contract had been approved by local authorities, the report said.

At least 2.8 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, accounting for the largest expatriate community in the country.