Riyadh, March 30, 2025, The Ministry of Interior carried out inspection campaigns across the Kingdom from March 20 to March 26 to enforce residency, labor, and border security regulations.
The inspections resulted in the following findings:
A total of 25,362 violations were recorded, including 18,504 related to residency, 4,004 to border security, and 2,854 to labor laws.
Authorities apprehended 1,533 individuals attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, comprising 30% Yemenis, 65% Ethiopians, and 5% from other nationalities. Additionally, 62 individuals were arrested for attempting to exit the Kingdom unlawfully.
Nine individuals involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators were detained.
Currently, 36,251 expatriates (34,729 men and 1,522 women) are undergoing procedures to ensure compliance with regulations.
A total of 27,576 violators were detained and instructed to contact their respective embassies or consulates for travel documentation, 2,315 were advised to arrange their departures, and 12,066 were deported.
The Ministry of Interior warned that facilitating illegal entry, transport, or sheltering of violators is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, with potential confiscation of vehicles and properties used.
The ministry emphasized that such offenses are major crimes warranting arrest and urged the public to report violations via 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions, and 999 or 996 in other areas of the Kingdom."