Saudi Arabia Arrests 17,880 Residency, Labor, and Border Law Violators in One Week
The Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia announced that joint security field campaigns arrested 17,880 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws within one week.
The ministry said the inspection campaigns were carried out across all regions of Saudi Arabia from 20 to 26 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 AH, which corresponds to December 11 to December 17, 2025. The campaigns yielded the following results:
1. A total of 17,880 violators were arrested nationwide. This included 11,190 residency law violators, 3,801 border security violators, and 2,889 labor law violators. Trending: Starting 1st January, salaries of domestic workers must be transferred through official channels
2. Authorities arrested 1,509 people while they were attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Among them were 44% Yemenis, 55% Ethiopians, and 1% from other nationalities. In addition, 40 people were arrested while trying to leave the Kingdom illegally.
3. Security forces arrested 15 people involved in transporting, sheltering, employing, or covering up for violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations.
4. The total number of expatriates currently undergoing legal procedures reached 29,771 people, including 28,198 men and 1,573 women.
5. Authorities referred 20,282 violators to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. Another 5,080 violators were referred to complete travel arrangements, and 12,661 violators were deported.
The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who helps violators enter the Kingdom illegally, transports them, shelters them, or provides any form of assistance faces severe penalties. These include up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to one million Saudi riyals, confiscation of transportation and housing used in the crime, and public defamation. Most Viewed: Saudi Arabia scraps Expat Levy fee for workers of Industrial sectors
The ministry stressed that this offense is classified as a major crime requiring arrest and is considered a violation of honor and trust. It urged the public to report violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in all other regions of Saudi Arabia.
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| Saudi Arabia Arrests 17,880 Residency, Labor, and Border Law Violators in One Week |