A former Saudi expatriate recently shared his real-life experience during a short visit to Saudi Arabia. His story offers an important lesson for anyone returning to the Kingdom after living and working here.
Returning to Saudi Arabia After Five Years
He had worked in Saudi Arabia during the 2010s and left the country on a final exit visa in 2019 without any known issues.
Five years later, he decided to return to perform Umrah. He entered Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa and arrived in Riyadh.
Immigration stamped his passport without any issues, and he entered the Kingdom smoothly. Soon after arriving, he even bought a Saudi SIM card in his name using his passport and visa.
He then travelled to Makkah and Madinah, completed his Umrah, and spent about a week in the Kingdom without any problems.
Trouble at the Airport Before Departure
On the day of his return, he arrived at the airport about three hours before his Flynas flight.
Everything seemed normal until the airline staff scanned his passport at the check-in counter. An error message appeared on the system.
The staff asked whether he had overstayed his visa. He explained that his Umrah visa was valid for 90 days and that he had stayed in Saudi Arabia for only seven days.
After several attempts to process his passport, the airline contacted immigration. He was then asked to visit the Jawazat counter inside the airport.
He Was Told There Was 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 following morning but did not explain the reason.
It was a stressful situation. His ticket was non-refundable, so he missed his flight and lost the full fare without knowing what had caused the problem.
The Reason Behind the Travel Ban
The next morning, he visited the Mahkama in Riyadh.
Outside the court, several service agents offered to help people check whether any legal cases were registered under their names. He agreed to pay one of them SAR 200 to obtain the details.
About 30 minutes later, the agent returned with a printout showing an unpaid Mobily bill of SAR 500 from his previous stay in Saudi Arabia under his old Iqama.
The unpaid bill had eventually resulted in a court case, which led to the travel ban.
How the Issue Was Resolved
The person assisting him explained that he needed to pay the outstanding Mobily bill along with the required court-related fees.
He paid a total of SAR 1,200, which included:
- SAR 500 for the unpaid Mobily bill
- SAR 500 in court-related fees
- SAR 200 for the service agent
Within about an hour, he received payment receipts and confirmation that the case had been closed and the travel ban lifted.
He booked another flight later that day and returned to his home country without any further issues.
A Valuable Reminder for Former Saudi Expats
This experience highlights the importance of ensuring there are no outstanding financial obligations from a previous stay in Saudi Arabia.
If you previously lived in the Kingdom, it is worth checking whether you have any unpaid telecom bills, utility bills, credit card balances, or other financial obligations before returning, even for a short visit or Umrah.
Depending on the circumstances, unresolved debts can lead to legal proceedings and travel restrictions. Such issues generally cannot be resolved at the airport and may require visiting the relevant court or authority.
While this is one individual’s experience and every case is different, clearing any outstanding obligations before travelling can help you avoid unexpected delays and complications.