Nearly 14,000 violators of residency, labor and border laws arrested in one week
Joint security campaigns across Saudi Arabia detained 13,889 violators of residency, labor, and border regulations between October 1 and 7, 2026.
Key Takeaways
AIJoint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations were carried out across all regions of the Kingdom from 20/4/1448H (October 1, 2026) to 26/4/1448H (October 7, 2026), resulting in the following outcomes:
First: A total of 13,889 violators were arrested during the joint security campaigns in all regions. Of these, 6,785 violated residency regulations, 3,710 violated border security regulations, and 3,394 violated labor regulations.
Second: A total of 1,382 people were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross into the Kingdom; 33% were Yemeni nationals, 66% Ethiopian nationals, and 1% from other nationalities. Additionally, 34 people were caught trying to illegally cross the border out of the Kingdom.
Third: Authorities arrested 21 individuals for involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations.
Fourth: Currently, 33,113 violators are undergoing procedures for implementing the regulations, including 30,438 men and 2,675 women.
Fifth: A total of 18,947 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 4,596 have been referred to complete travel bookings, and 10,431 have been deported.
The Ministry of Interior stressed that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them within the country, provides them shelter, or offers any assistance or service in any form, will face penalties of up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to 1 million riyals (SAR), confiscation of the means of transport and accommodation used, and public naming.
The ministry clarified that this crime is considered a major offense requiring detention and is deemed dishonorable and a breach of trust. It urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.