Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Jan 12: Saudi Arabia has launched the new year with an extensive nationwide enforcement drive aimed at tightening border security and bringing its labour and residency systems under stricter control. In a coordinated operation carried out between January 1 and January 7, 2026, security agencies across the Kingdom arrested 18,836 individuals for violating various laws related to residency, employment, and border regulations.
The large-scale operation, led by the Ministry of Interior in coordination with multiple government bodies, focused on curbing illegal stay and employment practices that affect both national security and the domestic labour market. Of those detained, 11,710 were found to be in breach of residency laws, 4,239 were arrested for border-related violations, and 2,887 were held for labour offences.
Authorities are currently handling the cases of nearly 30,000 expatriates through formal legal procedures, including more than 1,600 women. Each case is being examined individually to determine whether regularisation or deportation is warranted, underscoring the government’s emphasis on due process alongside enforcement.
Deportations have proceeded swiftly. During the same week, 10,195 individuals were repatriated to their home countries. To facilitate removals, more than 20,900 violators were referred to their embassies to obtain travel documents, while over 5,200 people are in the final stages of arranging flights. Officials say the rapid pace is intended to ease pressure on detention facilities and ensure strict compliance with residency regulations.
Preventing unlawful entry was another major priority. Security forces intercepted 1,741 people attempting to enter the Kingdom through unauthorized border routes. While those arrested represent a range of nationalities from Asia and Africa, officials noted recurring patterns in illegal border crossings that remain a key focus of ongoing patrols.
The Ministry of Interior also issued a strong warning against aiding violators. During the raids, 19 individuals were arrested for providing transportation, shelter, or employment to those residing illegally. Such actions carry severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 15 years, fines reaching SR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles or properties used to facilitate violations.
To sustain the crackdown, authorities have urged the public to report suspicious activity through emergency hotlines—911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.
The first week of 2026 has thus marked a decisive escalation in Saudi Arabia’s long-running efforts to enforce immigration, labour, and border laws. With tens of thousands detained, deported, or under legal review, the Kingdom has sent a clear signal of its intent to reinforce compliance and safeguard its labour market and national security.