In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to caring for all segments of society, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched a new initiative: the "Privilege Card," a smart digital identity card for Saudi citizens aged 60 and above. This initiative aims to enhance the status of senior citizens and facilitate their daily lives through a comprehensive suite of services.

What is a senior citizen privilege card?

The Privilege Card serves as an official digital identity, granting its holder a range of privileges and services. The Ministry designed this card to be a digital companion for senior citizens, automatically appearing in the "Tawakkalna" and Ministry of Human Resources applications, thus eliminating the need for beneficiaries to carry plastic cards or paper documents to access their priority rights and services.

Card eligibility requirements and issuance process

The ministry has set very simplified criteria for obtaining this card, in line with its policy of facilitating matters for the elderly. The conditions are summarized as follows:

• The beneficiary must be a Saudi citizen.
• To be 60 years of age or older.

One of the most prominent features of this initiative is its "automatic issuance" process; senior citizens are not required to submit any applications, visit ministry branches, or fill out complex electronic forms. Once a citizen reaches the specified legal age, the card is automatically activated and linked to their data in the approved government applications (Tawakkalna), reflecting an advanced level of electronic integration between government entities.

Key advantages and facilities offered

The "Privilege Card" grants its holders a package of moral and service rights that ensure their comfort, the most important of which are:

• Priority in service: Obtaining priority in completing transactions and benefiting from services in all government agencies and related entities.
• Dedicated facilities: Providing private parking spaces near the entrances of public and governmental facilities.
• Comfortable waiting areas: Allocate waiting seats in the front rows to ensure that the elderly are not exhausted while in public places.

The initiative's context is within the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The launch of the "Privilege Card" cannot be separated from the broader context of the Kingdom's digital transformation under Vision 2030. This initiative falls under the objectives of the "Quality of Life" program, which aims to improve the lifestyle of individuals and families. The reliance on the "Tawakkalna" application as the platform for this card demonstrates the success of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure, where services have shifted from bureaucratic paper-based transactions to proactive services that reach beneficiaries effortlessly.

Social and humanitarian impact

Locally, this initiative reinforces the values ​​of reverence and respect deeply rooted in Saudi society towards the elderly, but it also transforms this respect from customary practices into a structured and legally enshrined institutional framework. Providing these privileges is not merely an administrative service; it is a message of appreciation and gratitude to a generation that contributed to building the nation, thus strengthening social cohesion and making the elderly feel valued and secure in their position within society and the state.

The daily report issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which specializes in monitoring rainfall amounts, revealed that varying amounts of rainfall were recorded in 7 different administrative regions, as part of the ongoing monitoring of the climatic conditions in the Kingdom.

The official report indicated that monitoring stations recorded the highest rainfall in the Al-Gharif area of ​​Al-Khurmah Governorate in the Makkah region, reaching 32.6 mm. This data is based on readings from 51 hydrological and climatological monitoring stations distributed throughout the Kingdom, covering the period from 9:00 AM on Friday to 9:00 AM on Saturday.

Details of rainfall amounts in regions and governorates

The Makkah region experienced varying rainfall amounts. Besides Al-Khurmah, which recorded the highest rainfall, Al-Ruknah in Al-Muwayh recorded 8.0 mm, Maysan 1.7 mm, and Haddad Bani Malik in Taif recorded 0.5 mm. In the Madinah region, stations recorded 11.6 mm in Tharb in Mahd Al-Dhahab Governorate and 2.2 mm in Al-Hasu Municipality in Al-Hanakiya.

In Riyadh and its surrounding governorates, the Sajaa Reserve in Afif recorded 8.6 mm of rainfall, King Khalid International Airport 5.0 mm, and Al Majmaah 3.4 mm, while Al Kharj and Halban in Al Quway'iyah each recorded 1.6 mm. In the Qassim region, rainfall reached 6.2 mm at the Ministry's branch in Al Nabhaniyah, 3.9 mm in Al Tarfiyah Al Gharbiyah, and 1.4 mm in the Al Ulya neighborhood of Al Asyah.

Rain also fell in the Eastern Province, with Ras Tanura recording 3.4 mm, Hafr al-Batin 2.9 mm, and the Jubail naval base 2.8 mm. In the northern regions, Baqaa in the Hail region recorded 1.0 mm, while Rafha Airport in the Northern Borders region recorded 0.8 mm.

The importance of hydrological monitoring and the impact of rainfall

These daily reports are of paramount importance in the context of water resource management in Saudi Arabia, where the Ministry relies on a vast network of precise hydrological and climatological monitoring stations. This data contributes to informed decision-making regarding agriculture and dam management, in addition to its vital role in enhancing groundwater reserves, which are a cornerstone of water security in arid and semi-arid regions.

These rains, though varying in quantity, have a positive impact on vegetation and natural pastures in desert areas, thus supporting the livestock sector. Accurate monitoring of these rainfall amounts also helps relevant authorities, such as civil defense and meteorology, to issue early warnings and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens and residents, especially in areas experiencing high rainfall that could lead to flash floods in valleys and streams.