One of our South Asian friends recently shared his real-life experience during his short visit to Saudi Arabia — a story that carries an important lesson for many expatriates who once lived and worked in the Kingdom.
Returning to Saudi Arabia After Five Years
Our friend worked in Saudi Arabia during the 2010s under an Iqama and left the country on a final exit visa in 2020 without any issues. After five years, he decided to return for Umrah and arrived in Riyadh on an Umrah visa.
At the airport, immigration stamped his passport without any problem, and he entered the Kingdom smoothly. Soon after arrival, he even managed to buy a Saudi SIM card in his name using his passport and visa copy.
He then travelled to Makkah and Madinah to complete his Umrah and had a peaceful week-long stay.
Trouble at the Airport During Return
On the day of his return, he arrived at the airport three hours before his flight. His ticket was with Flynas, and everything seemed normal until the check-in counter staff swiped his passport.
The system showed an error message. The staff asked if he had overstayed. He explained that his Umrah visa was valid for 90 days and he had only stayed seven.
After several attempts, the supervisor contacted the immigration office. Moments later, our friend was asked to visit the Jawazat (immigration) counter inside the airport.
Shock: A Travel Ban
At the Jawazat counter, officers informed him that a travel ban had been placed on his name. They asked him to visit the “Mahkama” (court) the next morning — but did not provide any further details.
It was a stressful night. His ticket was non-refundable, so he lost the entire amount, and he had no idea what had caused the issue.
Visiting the Mahkama in Riyadh
The next morning, he went to the Mahkama (court) located near Murabba, along King Fahad Road in Riyadh. There, several service agents were sitting outside, offering help with checking cases registered under a person’s name.
He approached one of the agents outside, who said they could check and print his case details right away. After a short discussion, he agreed to pay SAR 200 for the service. Within about half an hour, the agent returned with a printout showing an unpaid Mobily bill of SAR 500 from his previous stay in the Kingdom under his old Iqama.
A case had been registered in court by the company because the bill remained unpaid for years.
Resolving the Case
The Saudi man helping him explained that to close the case, he needed to pay the outstanding bill (SAR 500) and a court fee (SAR 500). He made a total payment of SAR 1,200, including the helper’s fee.
Within an hour, he received the payment receipts and a screenshot showing that the case was closed and the travel ban lifted.
That night, he booked another flight online and successfully flew back to his home country without any further issues.
A Valuable Lesson for All Expats
This experience is a reminder for all former residents of Saudi Arabia:
If you have any unpaid bills — such as telecom, utility, or credit card dues — it’s best to clear them before or upon returning to the Kingdom, even on a visit or Umrah visa.
Unpaid dues can lead to court cases and travel bans, which cannot be resolved at the airport. Resolving them may require visiting the concerned court in person.
So, always check and settle any pending payments before planning a return visit to Saudi Arabia.