Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on 9 March indicated that Saudi Arabia may give citizenship to refugees who have been living in the Kingdom for several years as part of government’s efforts to correct their residency situation. Addressing a forum for developing disorganised residential districts in the Makkah region, Prince Khaled said the project would focus mainly on people living in these districts, especially foreign refugees like the Burmese. “We have agreed with the Labour Ministry to create jobs for them. We also told big companies implementing projects in the region to make use of these residents… and one day they become good citizens,” the governor said.
“This is the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and this is the king’s programme to correct the situation of these people and this is a commitment from this state and they have a right on this country to take care of them,” he explained.