Saudi Arabia: More than 18,000 violators of residency and labor laws have been apprehended
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and regulate the labor market, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the results of joint field campaigns conducted by various security sectors across the Kingdom from 27 Jumada al-Thani 1447 AH (December 18, 2025) to 4 Rajab 1447 AH (December 24, 2025). These intensive campaigns resulted in the apprehension of thousands of violators and the initiation of legal proceedings against them.
Details of seizures and official figures
Official data released by the ministry revealed that field campaigns resulted in the apprehension of 18,877 individuals violating residency, labor, and border security regulations. The violations were distributed as follows:
- Residence system: 11,991 violators were apprehended, representing the largest proportion of all those apprehended.
- Border security system: The number of violators apprehended reached 3,808 people.
- Work system: 3,078 violators were identified and apprehended.
Regarding border crossing attempts, the ministry explained that 1,312 people were apprehended while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Yemeni nationals constituted 44% of them, followed by Ethiopian nationals at 55%, while other nationalities accounted for 1%. Additionally, 46 people were apprehended while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Campaign context and its strategic importance
These intensified security campaigns are an extension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to implement the "A Nation Without Violators" principle, a strategy aimed at eliminating negative phenomena related to violations of regulations. These efforts are of paramount importance in the context of maintaining national security and social stability. Historically, Saudi security agencies have consistently conducted periodic campaigns to ensure compliance with sovereign laws, reflecting the state's resolve in addressing any transgressions that may threaten the security of society.
On the economic front, enforcing residency and labor laws plays a pivotal role in correcting labor market distortions and reducing the size of the informal economy or commercial concealment, thus creating fair opportunities for citizens and legal residents and supporting economic development in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals. Furthermore, securing the borders is a fundamental pillar in preventing smuggling and infiltration, thereby strengthening the Kingdom's regional security system.
Punitive measures and official warnings
The ministry indicated that the total number of individuals currently undergoing procedures for implementing the regulations is 28,937 undocumented migrants, including 27,259 men and 1,678 women. 20,378 undocumented migrants have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 13,241 have already been deported.
In a strongly worded warning, the Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom’s border security system, or transports them, or provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance, will be subject to deterrent penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to one million riyals, in addition to the confiscation of the means of transport and the accommodation used for sheltering, and public shaming, stressing that these actions are considered major crimes that warrant arrest and violate honor and integrity.
The ministry called on everyone to cooperate and report any violations by calling (911) in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.
