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JEDDAH – SAMA, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, has ordered banks to introduce from July a new pin code system to improve Internet and telephone banking security.
The move hopes to curb the infiltration of private bank accounts and will require customers accessing accounts and transferring money via the Internet and telephone to complete a further step after entering their name and password to provide them with a new secret number by text message with every operation.
Saqr Al-Arabi of Information Security at SAMA said the measure, which has already been introduced in Europe and Singapor, will be obligatory for banks and will incur no extra costs for customers.
“The system uses ‘talkaning’ technology and gives the customer a new secret number through a text message or the Internet flash program and other technological means of contact with every banking operation,” Al-Arabi said.
Banks were informed of the move at the beginning of the year, giving them a six-month period of preparation, Al-Arabi said. “The service is to be offered free of charge, and each bank is left to choose its own appropriate security means,” he said. “It may be slightly inconvenient for bank customers, but it will help protect their money”. – Okaz/SG

JEDDAH – The Board of Grievances has set Aug. 7 as the date to hear a case brought by a businessman against the Customs Department accusing it of passing goods through customs under his name without his knowledge.

The plaintiff is claiming SR6 million in compensation for losses incurred. He alleges that goods belonging to other businesses were put under his name to benefit from duty exemptions granted to him.

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JEDDAH – Saudi Arabian Airlines said Sunday that it has joined the SADAD nationwide electronic payment system permitting customers to pay for their flight bookings directly through their bank accounts via the Internet, telephone or ATM outlets.

Khaled Abdullah Almolhem, Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, also reminded customers with paid and confirmed tickets that they can also print out boarding cards 48 hours prior to their flight times.

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Expatriates in Saudi Arabia can obtain an exit-reentry visa for a single trip by mobile phone via SMS. This first-of-its-kind e-service for expatriates is being provided by Ishaar and Al-Elm Information Security in cooperation with the General Directorate of Passports.

“Al-Elm is the leading company in Saudi Arabia providing e- government services. It is owned by the Public Investment Fund and offers people smart services that help them save money, effort and time,” said Dr. Muhammad Siddiqi, mobile services unit manager of Al-Elm.

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JEDDAH – In line with its modernization program, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) said Tuesday it has finalized preparations to launch its new Amadeus system of passenger services.

The airline sees the system as a quantum leap in the field of integrated services extended to passengers. The new system is meant to help make several services available, and will hopefully speed up automated travel procedures.

The new system will be effective Sunday morning.

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JEDDAH – Etihad Etisalat Telecommunications Company (Mobily) will distribute a SR1.25 dividend to shareholders for last years performance, it has been announced.

The Board of Directors recommendation for the profit a share was approved by the companys General Assembly last Wednesday.

The company announced in a statement on the Saudi Capital Markets website that the profit distribution will take place on Saturday, April 10 by the National Commercial Bank (NCB). Shareholders who have the necessary bank facilities will have payment made directly into their bank accounts. Those who do not have portfolios at local banks and have not updated their bank account information can go to any NCB branch to collect the profits in cash.

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RIYADH – The SR1 million in financial assistance that King Abdullah ordered for the families of those who died in the Jeddah floods will be deposited into bank accounts within three days after the data prepared by relevant authorities in Jeddah has been received, a source at the Ministry of Finance said.
The payment would be made to the husband or wife or the person “most affected” by the death of the flood victim and that arrangements could be made to have the money paid by check, the source added.
Meanwhile, executive committees have been ordered to increase their staff and speed up the process of disbursing flood damage funds to those Saudis and expatriates who qualify for compensation. Compensation committees have been instructed to disburse payments to 500 people daily, starting this week.
The ministry source said that 470 beneficiaries had received compensation as of last Wednesday, adding that those who were absent and did not receive their allocation would be paid later.
The compensation field committee met on Saturday in an attempt to solve technical problems faced by the assessment committee dealing with vehicle compensation. Recommendations in this regard will be submitted to the Governor of Jeddah. – Okaz/SG

MADINA – An investigation has been ordered by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Madina, into the reasons for the illegal detention of a lawyer for 22 days in a Madina prison.

The General Court in Madina had ordered the release of the lawyer Abdul Rahman Al-Findi.

The court also started a probe into the legality of his imprisonment by the General Investigation and Prosecution Commission.

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JEDDAH – Consumers in the Middle East will to be using their mobile phone as the main source of making payments within five to 10 years, according to an telecom industry consultant.

“Ten years from now the mobile phone will be the primary means in which the consumer uses the phone to pay for services,” Anandan Jayaraman, chief product and marketing officer at the telecom consultancy company Connectiva, told Arabian Business on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

He pointed to the example of Africa, where mobile phones are already becoming the main source of payment.

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RIYADH – The head of the Kingdoms national housemaids recruiting office has absolved his organization of any blame for housemaids running away from their sponsors.

Chairman of the National Committee for Istiqdam, Saad Al-Baddah, said that there were other reasons for these domestic workers running away from their employers.

Speaking at a conference held in Riyadh Monday on the rights and duties of Indonesian laborers, Al-Baddah said that escapees constitute only 10 percent of the total employed, and only one percent of workers do so in the first three months.

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