The Shoura Council of Saudi Arabia approved the draft Distinguished Iqama law, allowing qualified expatriates a number of special rights with new type of iqama. 

As per the approved draft residence permit law, the holder of the new iqama will have family status, can get visit visas for relatives, hire domestic workers apart from owning properties, means of transport and such other benefits reported Saudi Gazette.

The draft law aims to attract wealthy people with special treatment, The law predicts that foreigners will have to make payment of a special fee specified by regulations and that center will be known as the Center of Distinguished iqama, which will be established for this purpose.

There will be 2 types of resident permits, first one is with one year validity which needs renewal and the second one is iqama with unlimited period.

- In order to get new type of iqama, a valid passport, good financial resources, sound health report and a certificate of no criminal record is needed. Recommend : Green cards through healthy investments

- The Shoura Council also approved amendments to the article 17 and 21 of the Anti Graft Law and endorsed number of articles in Saudi Building Code.

SOURCE : SAUDIEXPAT