Saudi Arabia Records Nearly 15,000 Residency, Labor and Border Violations in One Week
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RIYADH, July 25, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Saudi authorities recorded 14,970 residency, labor and border security violations during a nationwide enforcement campaign conducted between July 16 and 22, the Ministry of Interior said.
Residency breaches accounted for almost half of the total, with 7,437 cases identified. Authorities also registered 3,991 border security violations and 3,542 breaches of labor regulations.
The weekly campaign led to the arrest of 1,626 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally. Ethiopian nationals represented 62% of those detained, Yemenis accounted for 37%, and other nationalities made up the remaining 1%.
Another 33 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally, while 18 individuals were detained for allegedly transporting, sheltering or employing violators.
More than 30,500 expatriates are currently undergoing enforcement procedures, including 28,557 men and 1,989 women.
As part of the process, 17,747 people were instructed to contact their embassies or consulates to secure travel documents, while 6,113 were directed to arrange their departure. Authorities repatriated 13,251 individuals during the reporting period.
The Ministry of Interior warned that facilitating illegal entry into Saudi Arabia, transporting violators or providing them with accommodation or other assistance may result in prison sentences of up to 15 years and fines reaching SAR1 million.
Vehicles used to transport violators and properties used to shelter them may also be confiscated.
The ministry urged the public to report suspected violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Region, or 999 and 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.
