The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are working on a joint database project that would see biometric data shared to prevent convicted expatriate workers from re-entering any GCC state.The mechanism was discussed by the GCC labor ministers' meeting last October and is now just subject to clearance from the ministries of labor and interior of all GCC countries, regional media reported this week.The plan aims to prevent the issue of expatriates deported from Gulf countries obtain false travel documents under a different name to re-enter the same country or another GCC state. The database will include details of all expats who have broken civil and criminal laws or been convicted or deported.The GCC region hosts some 20 million foreign workers, with Saudi Arabia alone home to half of these.Saudia Arabian media has welcomed the move.”A biometric database of convicted criminals is being created. Iris-scanning, facial recognition, even good old fingerprints will find the fraudster out,” wrote Arab News in an editorial. “The GCC move to use biometrics to verify identities is ߪ highly significant. An arrival may not hold a travel document with biometric details. But this will not matter.”Saudi Arabia last month completed a mandatory fingerprint exercise for all male and female expats, and their dependents over the age of 15.The Kingdom has decreed that residency permits (iqamas) are issued to those expatriates who live in Saudi Arabia on an employment visa will now not be issued or renewed without proof of health insurance and biometrics, and without an iqama, entry and exit will be denied to expats.

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