Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 22,000 Illegal Residents in One Week Under Nationwide Crackdown
PakkaHyderabadi 
Saudi Arabia arrested over 22,000 illegal residents in one week as part of its ongoing national campaign.
Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on illegal foreign residents continues, with authorities arresting 22,094 violators in a single week, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The arrests were made between 13 and 19 November 2025 as part of the Kingdom’s ongoing national campaign targeting residency, labour, and border security violations — an operation active for several years.
Breakdown of Arrests
- 13,750 detained for violating Iqama (residency) laws
- 4,720 held for attempting illegal border entry
- 3,624 arrested for labour law violations
- 1,867 detained while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally
- 65% Ethiopian nationals
- 34% Yemeni nationals
- 1% from other countries
Authorities also arrested 32 individuals accused of providing transportation, shelter, employment, or other assistance to illegal residents.
In total, 30,055 violators are currently undergoing legal procedures, including:
- 28,469 men
- 1,586 women
Out of these:
- 21,856 have been instructed to contact their respective embassies or consulates for travel documentation
- 4,555 were directed to complete departure procedures
- 14,206 have already been deported from the Kingdom
Strict Penalties Announced
Saudi Arabia has reiterated that helping illegal residents is a criminal offence.
According to the Ministry of Interior:
- Those assisting illegal entrants may face
➡️ Up to 15 years in prison
➡️ Fines up to 1 million Saudi riyals
➡️ Confiscation of vehicles and property
Authorities urged residents to report violators to ensure national security and maintain public order.
