Saudi citizens fund registrations reach 1.7 million

More than 1.7 million people in Saudi Arabia have already registered for the country’s new citizens fund, according to reports.

The fund is designed to compensate lower earners for cuts to fuel, electricity and water subsidies that are expected to come into force this year.

It is open to nationals earning less than SAR21,000 ($5,599) a month

Read: Citizens fund open to Saudis earning less than $5,599 a month from Feb

Saudi Gazette reported that more than 1.7 million Saudis had registered on the online portal for the service by Friday.

The publication cited social development director Majed Al-Essaimy as saying 1.1 million people registered on the portal had already provided all of their information.

However, Saudis with non-Saudi spouses experienced difficulties in registering them, according to the publication.

“We have received complaints from Saudi husbands that they are unable to register their non-Saudi wives and we received complaints from Saudi wives who said they are unable to register their non-Saudi husbands,” Al-Essaimy was quoted as saying.

Saudi families, individuals, women married to foreigners and displaced tribes with cards enabling them to move between cities are all meant to be able to register for the fund.

However, it will not provide assistance to citizens who stay outside Saudi Arabia for 90 days or more a year.