Saudi Arabia detains 13,905 violators in week-long security campaigns

Saudi Arabian security forces conducted joint field campaigns across all regions of the Kingdom from October 15 to October 21, 2026, resulting in the detention of 13,905 individuals for violating residency, labor, and border security regulations.

The breakdown of violators includes 6,554 residency law violators, 3,865 border security violators, and 3,486 labor law violators. Additionally, authorities intercepted 1,881 individuals attempting to enter the country illegally and 22 attempting to exit through unofficial channels. Twenty-one people were arrested for involvement in transporting, sheltering, or concealing violators.

Currently, 37,618 expatriates are undergoing legal procedures, consisting of 35,449 men and 2,169 women. As part of the enforcement process, 20,252 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions for travel documents, 6,555 were referred to complete travel bookings, and 7,934 were deported.

The Ministry of Interior warned that facilitating the entry, transport, or sheltering of border security violators carries severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to one million riyals, confiscation of vehicles or housing, and public defamation.