Kamal Ghorui
Saudi Arabia’s sweeping enforcement drive against residency, labour and border violations has led to tens of thousands of arrests and legal actions within just one week, highlighting both the scale of the issue and the government’s firm response. Saudi Arabia’s joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labour and border security regulations recorded 22,931 violations across all regions between March 12 and 18, 2026, the Ministry of Interior announced. Of those arrested, 17,181 were found in violation of residency laws, 3,931 for border security violations, and 1,819 for labour law breaches, indicating that the majority of cases stem from irregular residency status. The enforcement operations also led to the detention of 1,635 individuals attempting to illegally enter the Kingdom. Among them, 68% were Ethiopian nationals, 29% were Yemenis, and 3% belonged to other nationalities. Authorities further reported that 40 individuals were arrested while attempting to leave the country illegally, pointing to continued efforts to monitor both entry and exit routes. In addition to those directly violating regulations, 36 individuals were apprehended for facilitating offences, including transporting, sheltering or employing violators and attempting to cover up their activities. The ministry’s data also shows the scale of ongoing legal proceedings, with 29,564 expatriates currently undergoing procedures, including 26,714 men and 2,850 women. As part of the administrative process, 21,133 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,285 individuals have been referred to complete travel arrangements. Meanwhile, 7,761 violators have already been deported, reflecting the pace at which authorities are processing cases. The Ministry of Interior issued a strong warning that anyone involved in facilitating illegal entry, transportation, or sheltering of violators faces up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, along with confiscation of vehicles and housing used in such activities and public naming of offenders. It stressed that these offences are classified as major crimes requiring detention and are considered dishonourable. The public has been urged to report violations through designated helplines, with 911 available in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in other regions, as authorities continue to expand enforcement efforts across the Kingdom.
