Saudi Arabia: 18,000 violators of residency, labor and border security regulations apprehended

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The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the results of its joint field campaigns aimed at tracking down and apprehending violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations, which covered all regions of the Kingdom. These efforts are part of a comprehensive security strategy to ensure compliance with sovereign regulations and protect the security of society and the national economy.

Details of field seizures

Official data from campaigns conducted between January 8 and 14, 2026, revealed that 18,054 violators were apprehended across various regions. The violations observed included a variety of offenses:

Violators of the residency system: Their number reached (11,343) violators, and they constitute the largest percentage of the total number of those arrested.
Violators of the border security system: (3858) people were apprehended.
Violators of the labor system: Their number reached (2853) violators.

Regarding border crossing attempts, the Ministry explained that 1,491 people were apprehended while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Yemenis constituted 40% of those apprehended, Ethiopians 59%, and 1% from other nationalities. Additionally, 18 people were apprehended while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

The context of the campaigns and their security and economic importance

These ongoing field campaigns are of paramount importance, extending far beyond mere security measures. They represent a cornerstone in regulating the Saudi labor market and combating the negative phenomena that may arise from the presence of undocumented workers. These efforts aim to enhance internal security, reduce crime rates often linked to those violating regulations, protect fair competition in the market, and guarantee the rights of legal workers.

These large numbers reflect the seriousness of the concerned authorities in implementing the "A Nation Without Violators" initiative, which seeks to correct the conditions of residents and eliminate commercial concealment and loose labor, which serves the national economy and supports the Kingdom's vision of creating a safe and stable investment and social environment.

Legal procedures and deportation

Regarding the handling of violators, statistics indicate that the total number of individuals currently subject to enforcement procedures is (27,518) undocumented migrants, including (25,552) men and (1,966) women. The following measures have been taken:

(19835) violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents.
(3936) violators were referred to complete their travel arrangements.
The deportation order was carried out against (14,621) violators.
(23) people were arrested for being involved in transporting, sheltering and employing violators.

Stern warnings and severe penalties

The Ministry of Interior has reiterated its strong warnings to anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom's border security regulations, transports them within the Kingdom, provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance or service whatsoever. The Ministry emphasized that these actions constitute serious crimes warranting arrest and are considered breaches of honor and integrity, with penalties reaching:

Imprisonment for up to 15 years.
A financial penalty of up to one million riyals.
Confiscation of the means of transport and the accommodation used for sheltering.
Defaming those who disagree.

The ministry called on everyone to cooperate and report any violations by calling (911) in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.