Nearly 15,000 residency, labor and border violators arrested in Saudi Arabia in one week

Joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations, conducted across all regions of Saudi Arabia from July 16 to 22, 2026 (2 to 8 Safar 1448), resulted in the arrest of 14,970 individuals.

The Ministry of Interior stated that the arrests included 7,437 for residency violations, 3,991 for border security violations, and 3,542 for labor violations.

Border crossing attempts and enforcement measures

A total of 1,626 people were apprehended while attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia, with 37% of Yemeni nationality, 62% Ethiopian, and 1% from other nationalities. Additionally, 33 people were caught trying to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Authorities also arrested 18 individuals for transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing violators of residency, labor, and border regulations. Currently, 30,546 violators are undergoing legal procedures, including 28,557 men and 1,989 women.

Deportation procedures and penalties warning

A total of 17,747 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 6,113 were referred to complete travel bookings, and 13,251 were deported.

The Ministry of Interior warned that facilitating the entry, transport, harboring, or assistance of border security violators is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, in addition to confiscation of vehicles and residences used, and public naming. The ministry emphasized that this crime is considered a major offense warranting detention and is a breach of honor and trust.

The ministry urged the public to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.