Saudi Arabia arrests 11,819 for residency and border violations

Saudi Arabian authorities arrested 11,819 individuals during a week-long nationwide campaign targeting violations of residency, labor, and border security regulations. The joint field operations, conducted between September 24 and September 30, 2026, resulted in the detention of 5,793 people for residency law violations, 3,307 for border security breaches, and 2,719 for labor-related offenses.

Regarding illegal border crossings, 1,382 individuals were apprehended attempting to enter the Kingdom, consisting of 61% Ethiopian nationals, 38% Yemeni nationals, and 1% of other nationalities. Additionally, 32 people were caught attempting to exit the country illegally, and 19 individuals were detained for involvement in transporting, sheltering, or employing violators.

As a result of these operations, 9,992 violators were deported, 19,893 were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, and 4,091 were processing travel arrangements. A total of 32,139 expatriates, including 29,934 men and 2,205 women, are currently undergoing legal procedures. The Ministry of Interior warned that facilitating illegal entry or providing assistance to violators can result in up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles and property.