Saudi Arabia Deports Over 12,000 Illegal Expats in Nationwide Crackdown

Saudi Arabia has deported 12,101 expatriates who were staying in the country without proper registration, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal residents. This action was reported in a recent update from the Saudi Interior Ministry, which also revealed that a total of 22,716 foreign nationals were arrested within a single week for violating the country’s residency, labor, and border laws.

The arrests, made during security campaigns across the kingdom from September 12-18, included 14,446 individuals for breaking residency regulations, 4,780 for border violations, and 3,490 for labor law infractions.

Furthermore, a total of 1,513 individuals were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross the border into the Kingdom. Of these, 53% were of Ethiopian nationality, 46% were Yemeni, and 1% were from other nationalities. Additionally, 38 individuals were arrested while trying to exit the Kingdom illegally.

Currently, 15,752 illegal residents, including 1,585 women, are undergoing legal procedures. Additionally, 6,765 people have been referred to their respective embassies to arrange for travel documents, and 2,232 others are in the process of booking their travel for deportation.

Authorities have also arrested 10 individuals for their involvement in transporting, sheltering, or employing those violating Saudi residency, border, and labor laws. The Interior Ministry has reiterated that anyone found assisting illegal entrants into the kingdom, or providing transportation, shelter, or other forms of aid, could face severe consequences—up to 15 years in prison, a fine of SR1 million, and the confiscation of the transportation or accommodation used.

Saudi Arabia, with a population of around 32.2 million, is home to a significant expatriate workforce. The government has been conducting security operations under the campaign titled “A Country Without Violators,” aimed at addressing illegal residency in the kingdom.