Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has launched electric scooters for its staff at the King Fahd Causeway crossing in the Eastern Province. This move aims to improve operational efficiency and enhance the experience for travelers at one of the Kingdom’s busiest border points.
The initiative forms part of a wider adoption of smart solutions designed to increase responsiveness and facilitate smoother processing of travel procedures. The electric scooters are expected to particularly benefit elderly passengers and individuals with disabilities by easing their movement across the crossing.
In addition to streamlining travel processes, these scooters will help regulate vehicle flow through lanes and gates, while enabling quicker response times during emergencies. Saudi Arabia plans to extend this electric scooter program to all its ports as part of ongoing efforts to modernize border operations.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom has also introduced tougher penalties for violations related to travel document regulations. Saudi citizens traveling to prohibited countries may face fines up to SR30,000 and travel bans lasting up to two years. Repeat offenders risk doubled fines and bans extending to five years.
These updated executive rules, approved by Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, empower authorities to designate restricted destinations based on security evaluations and official protocols. Penalties are increased in cases involving travel to dangerous countries, conflict zones, or areas under emergency travel restrictions.
