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The Ministry of Interior detailed that the 14,434 arrests comprised 6,976 residency violators, 4,110 border security offenders and 3,348 labour law breaches. Joint inspections across the kingdom involved multiple government agencies over the seven-day period. These operations reflect the scale of enforcement applied to immigration and employment regulations.
According to the ministry, an additional 1,450 individuals were arrested while attempting illegal entry into Saudi Arabia, of whom 58 per cent were Ethiopian nationals and 41 per cent Yemeni. Another 44 people were apprehended trying to exit the country unlawfully. Twenty-seven more faced detention for allegedly transporting, sheltering or employing violators.
The ministry stated that 14,905 people were deported following the campaign while 18,914 were referred to diplomatic missions for travel documents and 2,867 to finalise their departure arrangements. The breakdown underscores the comprehensive approach to processing cases arising from the arrests. All actions followed established legal procedures.
A comparable enforcement week in mid-August saw 14,260 arrests and 13,724 deportations, Gulf News reported. Such weekly campaigns have become a regular feature of Saudi efforts to manage expatriate compliance. The consistency in numbers from successive operations indicates persistent challenges in residency and border control.
The Ministry of Interior has specified penalties for those aiding violations, including up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching one million Saudi riyals. Confiscation of vehicles and properties involved in the offences may also apply, along with public disclosure of the violations. Reports of suspected breaches can be made to toll-free numbers that vary by region.
These campaigns form part of broader measures that have seen tens of thousands processed in recent months based on successive ministry releases. The focus remains on upholding labour market rules and national security at borders while maintaining structured legal pathways for resolution.
