30/12/2024
30/12/2024
8 centers open to expedite registration
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 30: The Director of the General Department of Criminal Evidence, Major General Eid Al-Owihan, has announced the suspension of all government transactions for expatriates who have not completed the biometric fingerprinting within the specified deadline, which ends on Dec 31, 2024. However, he denied that any fines would be imposed for failing to complete the process. The suspension includes renewal of residence permits and the freezing of bank accounts. In an interview with ‘Al-Akhbar’ channel, Major General Al-Owihan stated that around 76 percent of expatriates living in Kuwait have completed the biometric fingerprinting process.
He also mentioned that there are 8 centers open from 8 am to 8 pm to accommodate citizens and residents wishing to complete the procedure, with services continuing throughout January 2025. He added that devices have been provided to visit the homes of individuals with special needs and bed-ridden patients. To date, about 13,241 individuals have been fingerprinted through this service. He emphasized that the ministry has taken all necessary measures to facilitate the process for citizens. Additionally, Al-Owihan mentioned ongoing communications between the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to provide a list of Kuwaitis studying abroad, patients receiving treatment, and diplomats to lift the ‘block’ on their transactions until they return to Kuwait to complete the fingerprinting process.
He also mentioned that there are 8 centers open from 8 am to 8 pm to accommodate citizens and residents wishing to complete the procedure, with services continuing throughout January 2025. He added that devices have been provided to visit the homes of individuals with special needs and bed-ridden patients. To date, about 13,241 individuals have been fingerprinted through this service. He emphasized that the ministry has taken all necessary measures to facilitate the process for citizens. Additionally, Al-Owihan mentioned ongoing communications between the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to provide a list of Kuwaitis studying abroad, patients receiving treatment, and diplomats to lift the ‘block’ on their transactions until they return to Kuwait to complete the fingerprinting process.
He disclosed that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, strongly supports in facilitating these procedures. On persons who have yet to complete the biometric fingerprints, Al- Owihan stated that 16,442 Kuwaitis, 224,000 expatriates and 88,604 bedoun have yet to complete the biometric process, noting that these are relatively small numbers considering the speed at which the ministry has completed the fingerprinting process.
By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff