Saudi Arabia Deports Over 7,900 Foreign Nationals in Major Security Drive

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian authorities have deported 7,934 foreign nationals and recorded nearly 14,000 infractions related to residency, labor, and border security regulations during a nationwide joint enforcement campaign conducted within a single week, official sources confirmed on Sunday.

According to a detailed operational report released by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, security forces and specialized government agencies identified a total of 13,905 violations between October 15 and October 21. The comprehensive crackdown targeted individuals breaching the kingdom’s residency regulations, labor market standards, and border security protocols across multiple provinces. Of the total infractions, thousands involved illegal residency status, while remaining cases pertained to unauthorized employment practices and illegal border entry attempts.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated that stringent legal measures are being actively enforced against all offenders, warning that individuals caught providing shelter, transportation, or financial assistance to illegal residents will face severe judicial penalties. Such aiding infractions carry strict punishments, including heavy monetary fines, extended prison sentences, and the immediate confiscation of vehicles or properties utilized in facilitating unlawful stays within the kingdom.

Saudi authorities emphasized that these joint security sweeps will continue routinely across all administrative regions to ensure full compliance with national laws and safeguard labor market stability under the kingdom’s broader economic reform framework. Government officials urged citizens and legal expatriates to report any immigration or residency breaches through established emergency hotlines, underscoring a strict zero-tolerance stance against security non-compliance.