Weekly Saudi Security Campaigns Lead to 18,836 Arrests
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior said that joint field security campaigns detained 18,836 people who violated residency, work, and border security requirements in one week.
The ministry explained that these inspection campaigns were carried out in all regions of the Kingdom to monitor and arrest violators. The campaigns, which ran from January 1, 2026, to January 7, 2026, yielded the following results:
➤ Across the Kingdom, 18,836 individuals were detained for violating the law. Among these individuals, 11,710 have been found guilty of residence violations, 4,239 of border security violations, and 2,887 of labor regulations. See Also: Procedure to request for Absher Travel service
➤ Authorities arrested 1,741 people while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Among them, 39% were Yemenis, 60% were Ethiopians, and 1% were of other nationalities. In addition, 46 people were arrested for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
➤ Security forces arrested 19 people for transporting, sheltering, employing violators, or helping them hide and avoid authorities.
➤ The total number of expatriates currently undergoing legal procedures reached 29,823 violators, including 28,220 men and 1,603 women.
➤ Authorities referred 20,956 violators to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. Another 5,201 violators were sent to complete travel bookings, and 10,195 violators were deported.
The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone who helps violators enter the Kingdom illegally, transports them, shelters them, or provides any type of assistance will face severe penalties. These penalties include up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to one million Saudi riyals, confiscation of vehicles and housing used in the violations, and public disclosure of the offender’s identity. Most Viewed: Expatriates sends 12.6 billion riyals in remittances from Saudi Arabia
The ministry classified these crimes as major offenses, requiring arrest, and as violations of honor and trust. It urged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in all other regions of the Kingdom.
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| Weekly Saudi Security Campaigns Lead to 18,836 Arrests |