20,000 violators of residency and labor laws were apprehended in Saudi Arabia in one week
Saudi security forces continue their intensive and decisive efforts to track down and apprehend violators of regulations, as part of a comprehensive security strategy aimed at strengthening internal security and regulating the labor market. In its latest official statistics, the Ministry of Interior announced the results of joint field campaigns that covered all regions of the Kingdom between January 29 and February 4, 2026, resulting in record numbers of arrests that reflect the vigilance of security personnel.
Details of security operations and field campaigns
Official figures revealed that joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations resulted in the arrest of 20,237 violators in just one week. These violations covered all regulatory aspects, with details as follows:
- Residency system: (12,687) violators were apprehended, which is the highest number, indicating that the campaigns are focused on correcting the status of residents.
- Border security system: The number of those apprehended reached (4318) violators.
- Work system: (3232) violators were detected and apprehended.
These campaigns come in the context of the Kingdom’s keenness to eliminate negative phenomena and violations of regulations that may affect economic and social security, and to ensure a safe and regulated environment for citizens and legal residents alike.
Border security: Infiltration attempts thwarted
Regarding the protection of the Kingdom's borders, statistics demonstrate the high efficiency of the Border Guard forces and supporting sectors, with the apprehension of 1,555 individuals attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally. The nationalities of the infiltrators varied, with Yemenis comprising 40%, Ethiopians 57%, and other nationalities 3%. Additionally, 61 individuals were apprehended attempting to cross the border out of the Kingdom illegally.
Regulatory procedures and deterrent penalties
Security efforts are not limited to field enforcement; they also include strict legal and administrative procedures. Currently, 23,807 undocumented migrants are subject to enforcement procedures, including 21,926 men and 1,881 women. Of these, 16,805 have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 2,437 to finalize their travel arrangements, and 11,656 have already been deported.
In a related context, (32) people involved in the crimes of transporting, sheltering, employing, and covering up for violators were arrested.
Strong warnings from the Ministry of Interior
The Ministry of Interior reiterated its firm warnings that national security is a red line, emphasizing that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them within its borders, provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance or service whatsoever, will be subject to severe penalties. These penalties include imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the vehicle and residence used for sheltering the violators, and public shaming. This crime is considered a major offense warranting arrest and is a breach of honor and integrity.
Reporting and Community Cooperation Mechanism
Security authorities called on all citizens and residents to cooperate in reporting any violations by calling the number (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, stressing that community cooperation is the main pillar for the success of these security campaigns.
