Saudi Arabia arrests 18,407 illegal residents in a week-long nationwide crackdown

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has arrested 18,407 individuals for violating residency, labor, and border security regulations over the past week, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.

The arrests were made during joint field campaigns conducted between March 27 and April 2, in coordination with multiple government agencies.

The operations, part of an ongoing enforcement initiative, targeted unauthorized residents and those attempting to cross the Kingdom’s borders illegally.

According to the ministry, the detainees included 12,995 violators of the Residency Law, 3,512 violators of the Border Security Law, and 1,900 violators of the Labor Law.

Authorities reported that 1,260 individuals were arrested while attempting to illegally enter the Kingdom, with Ethiopians making up the majority — 66 per cent — followed by 28 per cent Yemenis and 6 per cent from other nationalities. An additional 67 individuals were apprehended while trying to exit the country without authorisation.

As part of deportation procedures, 27,288 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to secure travel documents. Meanwhile, 1,762 individuals were processed for travel bookings, and 7,523 were deported directly.

The crackdown extended to those helping illegal residents. Twenty-one people were arrested for allegedly sheltering, transporting, or employing violators. In total, 34,201 individuals — 32,453 men and 1,748 women — are currently undergoing legal procedures.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated its warning that helping unauthorized residents — whether through transportation, employment, or providing shelter — carries severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million Saudi riyals (approximately $266,000), and the confiscation of vehicles and properties used in the violations.