Further to SAMA's circular No. 25265/67 dated 20/04/1440 H regarding the exemption of expatriate labor accounts from freezing for employees of certain distressed companies, and allowing banks to activate the accounts and relationships they hold for employees of those companies who have become distressed, whose residency permits have expired, and to open and activate accounts for those who do not have residency permits and work under temporary residency in their passports.

We would like to inform you that it has been decided to include the exemption mentioned in SAMA's circular for laborers holding prepaid salary cards, allowing the deposit of salaries and entitlements for those workers and permitting the exceptional activation of those cards for employees of distressed companies. We would also like to emphasize that the exemption period previously set for expatriate labor from freezing for employees of certain distressed companies is limited to six months only from this date. For coordination or inquiries regarding this matter, please contact the specialist in the Banking Licensing Department at SAMA.