Sunday, July 19, 2026

SPA - Riyadh:

The joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations, conducted across all regions of the Kingdom, from 24/1 to 1/2/1448 AH (July 9-15, 2026) yielded the following results:

First: The total number of violators apprehended by the joint security field campaigns across all regions of the Kingdom reached 15,836, including 7,892 violators of the residency system, 4,617 violators of the border security system, and 3,327 violators of the labor system.

Second: The total number of individuals apprehended while attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom reached 1,631, of whom 33% were Yemeni nationals, 65% Ethiopian nationals, and 2% other nationalities. Additionally, 42 individuals were caught attempting to cross the border out of the Kingdom illegally.

Third: 21 individuals were arrested for involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, and covering up violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations.

Fourth: The total number of violators currently undergoing regulatory enforcement procedures is 30,139, including 28,087 men and 2,052 women.

Fifth: 17,273 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions for travel documents, 6,160 violators have been referred to complete their travel bookings, and 12,211 violators have been deported.

The Ministry of Interior stressed that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them within the country, provides them shelter, or offers any assistance or service in any form, exposes themselves to penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the means of transport and the housing used for shelter, in addition to public defamation. It clarified that this crime is considered a major offense warranting arrest and is a crime of honor and integrity. The Ministry urged reporting any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.