Saudi Press

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Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 25,000 for Immigration Violations in One Week

Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 25,000 for Immigration Violations in One Week

Significant rise in arrests highlights ongoing efforts to enforce residency and border security regulations.
Saudi authorities reported the arrest of 25,150 individuals within a week for breaches of residency, work, and border security laws, as stated by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

The arrests included 17,886 individuals for violations of residency laws, while 4,247 were apprehended for illegal attempts to cross the Kingdom's borders, alongside 3,017 individuals held for labor-related offenses.

Among those arrested for illegal border entry, 1,553 individuals were identified.

The nationality breakdown indicated that 69 percent of these individuals were Ethiopian, 28 percent Yemeni, and the remaining 3 percent represented other nationalities.

Additionally, 63 individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross into neighboring countries, and 36 individuals were detained for their roles in facilitating or harboring violators of immigration laws.

In relation to these operations, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced stringent penalties for individuals found to be assisting in the illegal entry of others into the Kingdom.

These penalties may include a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, fines reaching up to SR1 million (approximately $260,000), and confiscation of vehicles and property linked to these offenses.

The public is encouraged to report suspected violations through designated toll-free numbers: 911 for the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 for other regions across the Kingdom.
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