2009 ended on a good note for many expatriates living in the Kingdom. Hopes to have their families living with them soon were high. On Dec. 26, Arab News quoted a report by Al-Yaum, an Arabic newspaper, saying, "The Foreign Ministry will issue permanent resident visas for wives and children of expatriate workers in the Kingdom, without considering their profession (and on salary basis)."

This was welcome news for the nine millions expats in Saudi Arabia. Cumbersome criteria for family visas had made it impossible for many expats to bring their families. The days that visas were granted only to white-collar professions such as engineers, doctors and executives were over, we thought. Expats with a "lower" class of profession like laborers, masons, and electricians, who were "exempted" from the right to have their family here, would be now allowed to, we supposed.

But a last week's report dashed all those aspirations and dreams when an official dismissed "rumors" about relaxing family visa policies or requirements.

"The family visa is very much linked to the profession on your Iqama. The financial status of the applicant is only one of the conditions," Arab News quoted an Isteqdam official as saying on March 20.

The usual justification we hear from people is that people of lower professions cannot afford families here. But it is well-known that many professionals, who earn lucrative salaries, are working on labor-type visas. Thus they become ineligible to bring their families here. Expats are no doubt upset with this latest announcement.

Scrutinizing this issue from different aspects clearly shows it'll be a win-win situation for both Saudi Arabia and the expats if the issue were to be relaxed.

Islamic viewpoint

As the birth place of Islam and the country of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia is seen as the most sacred land on earth by Muslims, who are naturally the majority of expats. These expats often have stronger feeling of attachment to this country than their own homelands. Where has the sense of Islamic brotherhood gone?
As for the question of "not being able to afford", we should know that Allah is the The Provider. He has promised to provide provision to every living creature, including the insects crawling beneath the stones. Human beings do what is necessary, as required by Islam, to earn a Halaal living, but it is Allah who provides.
Discriminating people because of their nationality and profession is against Islamic teachings.
Rights of the creation are underscored in Islamic teachings. Allah may forgive a person's sins that are in disobedience to Allah, but He does not forgive injustice and oppression to His creation unless the wronged person himself forgives the oppressor in this world. If not, then Allah will mete out proper justice for that oppression on the Day of Judgment.
So giving equal rights to our fellow beings, despite their social status, is an Islamic requirement that must be fulfilled.

Social viewpoint

Living with one's family is a fundamental right of every human being and it must be facilitated by the state to ensure the society remains healthy and crime free. In the absence of this, the number of immoral crimes naturally increases, and Saudi Arabia is no different. Anyone will agree that morality here is declining. A recent study found that many foreign laborers working in the Gulf, without their families, had contracted diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis because of being involved in illicit activities.
A person deprived of the legal outlet to his natural desire will tend to fall into prohibited activities.
Moreover, in desperate attempts to get their families, expats bribe officials and pay large amounts of money to secure family visas. So, bribery and corruption have become the byproduct of this law.

Economic viewpoint

If more expats brought their families here, there will be less money transmitted outside the Kingdom. Families spend more, so more money will circulate Saudi Arabia's market, which will in turn strengthen the economy and lead to the creation of new jobs for unemployed Saudis.
Moreover, employees will be more productive if they live a comfortable family life.

(Editing by Faraz Omar)