Saudi Arabia Deports 12,635 in One Week of Raids

Saudi Arabia deported 12,635 illegal residents in a single week as part of ongoing nationwide joint field campaigns targeting violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of the Kingdom.

During the same week, a total of 14,782 violators were arrested. These included 7,438 people who breached the Residency Law, 3,782 who violated the Border Security Law, and 3,562 caught breaking the Labor Law.

As procedures moved forward, 18,986 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to complete travel documentation, while 3,834 were referred to finalize travel bookings. A total of 12,635 individuals were deported after their cases were completed.

Why it matters to the community

These weekly operations focus on offenses such as overstaying visas, lacking a valid iqama, working for a non-sponsor, taking up unlicensed work, absconding, and illegal entry or aiding it. Authorities have repeatedly warned that harboring, employing, or transporting violators is a punishable offense, with penalties that can include fines, imprisonment, public naming, and confiscation of vehicles used to move violators.

The scale of enforcement points to a steady pattern rather than a one-off action, so residents and employers are urged to keep their status in order. Individuals inside the Kingdom can generally correct professions, transfer sponsorship, or update employment contracts through established channels — Absher for many residency and travel services, Qiwa for private-sector labor and contract services, and Muqeem and related employer systems for residence permit and exit procedures.

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