FLASH NEWSSaudi Arabia Deports 13,000+ in One Week

13,251 Deported: Saudi Arabia's Week-Long Crackdown

Saudi Arabia‘s Ministry of Interior has deported 13,251 people in a single week, following a nationwide campaign targeting violations of residency, labor, and border security laws. The enforcement drive, carried out between July 16 and July 22, resulted in the arrest of 14,970 individuals accused of breaching these regulations. Residency-related offenses accounted for the largest share of arrests, followed by border security and labor law violations.

The crackdown is part of broader efforts by Saudi authorities to enforce immigration and labor regulations. The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone found assisting illegal border crossings or providing transport, accommodation, or employment to violators could face severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 15 years, fines of as much as SR1 million, and confiscation of vehicles or property used in committing the offenses.

More than 30,500 individuals are currently subject to legal action, including 17,747 referred to obtain travel documents and 6,113 completing travel arrangements before departure. Ethiopian nationals accounted for 62% of those apprehended, while Yemenis represented 37% and other nationalities made up the remaining 1%. A further 33 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally, and security authorities detained 18 others accused of facilitating illegal migration.

The Ministry of Interior urged the public to report suspected violations through dedicated emergency hotlines, stressing that all reports are handled confidentially and that informants bear no legal liability.