Saudi Interior Ministry: 18,000 violators of residency and border regulations apprehended

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Saudi security forces continue their intensive efforts to enhance security and regulate the labor market. The Ministry of Interior announced the results of its joint field campaigns targeting violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across the Kingdom. These campaigns are part of a comprehensive strategy to enforce order and eliminate negative phenomena related to violations of regulations.

Details of field seizures during the week

The ministry's statistical report for the period from January 15 to 21, 2026, revealed that (18,200) violations were recorded across various regions. The violations observed were diverse and included the following:

Residency system: Residency violations topped the list with (11,442) violators.
Border security: (3,931) violators of the border security system were apprehended.
Labor System: The number of violators of the labor system reached (2,827) violators.

Regarding border crossing attempts, security reports indicated that a total of 1,762 individuals were apprehended while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Yemeni nationals constituted 46% of this number, followed by Ethiopian nationals at 53%, with the remaining 1% belonging to other nationalities. Additionally, 46 individuals were identified and apprehended while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Context of the campaigns and their economic and security importance

These campaigns are not a temporary measure, but rather part of a historical and regulatory process that the Kingdom has intensified in recent years under the slogan "A Nation Without Violators." These ongoing efforts aim to rectify labor market conditions and reduce the number of undocumented workers, which negatively impacts the national economy and the competitiveness of the private sector.

From a security perspective, apprehending border violators contributes to protecting society from transnational crimes and preventing the entry of undocumented individuals who may pose a security or social threat. These measures align with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to create a safe, stable, and regulated environment that attracts investment and promotes a high quality of life.

Deterrent sanctions: a red line that cannot be crossed

The Ministry of Interior, in its statement, emphasized the seriousness of harboring or concealing violators, stressing that such actions constitute major crimes warranting arrest and are a breach of honor and integrity. Eleven individuals involved in transporting, harboring, and employing violators were apprehended this week.

The ministry warned that penalties for anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators or provides them with shelter can reach:

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.

Current regulatory procedures and reporting mechanism

A large number of violators are currently undergoing procedures to enforce the regulations, with a total of 25,477 undocumented migrants being processed, including 23,443 men and 2,034 women. 18,685 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 14,451 have already been deported.

The security authorities called on all citizens and residents to cooperate and report any violations via the official numbers: (911) in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and (999) or (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom, stressing that the security of the homeland is everyone’s responsibility.