Published on
November 9, 2025
Saudi Arabia is revolutionizing its travel and immigration processes with the launch of the Smart Track and Self-Deportation Platform, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s digital governance strategy. These innovative systems are designed to streamline passenger processing and improve efficiency at border control points, ensuring faster, more secure travel experiences. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and automation, Saudi Arabia is enhancing its ability to manage both domestic and international movement seamlessly, positioning itself as a leader in digital border management.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its efforts to modernize immigration and border control systems, introducing innovative technology-driven solutions that promise to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Among the most significant of these initiatives are the Self-Deportation Platform and the Smart Track system, both of which are set to transform the way the Kingdom manages its borders and interacts with travelers.
The launch of these systems marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation, reflecting a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to improve operational efficiency and security. The announcement was made during the 2025 Digital Government Forum in Riyadh, where government officials underscored the Kingdom’s dedication to modernizing its administrative processes.
Self-Deportation Platform: A Step Toward Efficiency and Transparency
The Self-Deportation Platform represents a major shift from Saudi Arabia’s previous reliance on paper-based deportation procedures. This digital platform allows individuals who are residing illegally in the country to complete their deportation procedures online, bypassing the need for in-person visits to immigration offices. Once fully operational, users will be able to submit their documentation, verify their identities, and receive the necessary authorization to depart the country through an entirely automated system.
This platform is expected to significantly reduce congestion at immigration offices, providing a more efficient and transparent process for those wishing to regularize their status. By digitizing the process, the government is not only improving administrative efficiency but also promoting a more humane approach to managing illegal immigration. This move aligns with broader efforts to modernize Saudi Arabia’s bureaucracy and improve the ease of access to government services.
Smart Track: Revolutionizing Passenger Processing
The Smart Track system, another cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s digital border control initiative, leverages AI and a network of intelligent cameras to streamline passenger identity verification at airports. Capable of processing up to 35 passengers simultaneously, the system is designed to replace traditional passport control officers at specific checkpoints, significantly reducing wait times and eliminating bottlenecks that often occur at busy airports.
The system works by cross-referencing passenger identities with security databases in real time, ensuring a seamless and secure flow of passengers through airport terminals. As it integrates further with national security infrastructure, the Smart Track system will become a key component of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve border efficiency. The technology aims to ensure faster, more accurate processing, thereby enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers entering the country.
In addition to these benefits, the Smart Track system will provide invaluable data to help optimize airport operations. By using real-time analytics, the system can provide insights into crowd movement, estimate wait times, and monitor passenger satisfaction—an application that was successfully tested during the 2024 Hajj season. This data will play a crucial role in improving operational flow at airports, enabling authorities to anticipate and address potential issues before they arise.
A Comprehensive Digital Transformation Strategy
These innovations are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation strategy, which is heavily centered around the Absher platform—a government portal that already serves over 24 million users. Absher provides more than 100 online services to residents, including digital passports, travel permits, and AI-assisted customer support through a 24-hour “Smart Voice Agent.”
By integrating the Self-Deportation Platform and Smart Track system into Absher, Saudi authorities are enhancing the ease with which citizens and residents can interact with government services. The use of AI and automation across these platforms allows for faster, more efficient service delivery, which aligns with the government’s aim to create a fully digital, user-friendly experience for all residents.
In addition to domestic benefits, Saudi authorities are also working to create a unified international data gateway. This gateway will facilitate the secure exchange of passenger information with partner countries, strengthening global cooperation and improving border efficiency on an international scale. By integrating their systems with those of other nations, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a leader in cross-border digital governance, enhancing both security and cooperation with global counterparts.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Digital Governance
The implementation of the Self-Deportation Platform and Smart Track system signals a new era in Saudi Arabia’s approach to immigration and border control. These initiatives not only promise to improve operational efficiency but also set a precedent for how countries can harness the power of digital technologies to enhance security and service delivery at border points. As Saudi Arabia continues to embrace AI and automation in its public sector, these platforms will play a key role in achieving the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a global leader in digital governance.
Through these technological advancements, Saudi Arabia is demonstrating its commitment to providing a seamless, efficient, and secure experience for both residents and visitors. By incorporating innovative solutions into everyday governance, the Kingdom is laying the foundation for a future in which technology is central to the efficient functioning of the state and the welfare of its people.
