Saudi authorities have arrested 13,905 people over alleged violations of residency, labour and border security regulations during a week-long nationwide enforcement campaign.
The arrests were made between 15 and 21 October, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The information was reported on Saturday, 25 October.
The ministry said security authorities conducted inspections across the country to identify individuals suspected of breaching the kingdom’s residency, employment and border security laws. A total of 13,905 people were detained during the operations.
However, the statement did not provide a detailed breakdown of the arrests by category of offence. It also did not specify the nationalities of those detained or clarify how many of them were foreign residents.
Saudi Arabia is home to a large expatriate workforce employed across a range of sectors. Foreign nationals living and working in the kingdom are required to comply with the country’s residency and employment regulations, including maintaining valid documentation and meeting the conditions attached to their legal status.
The latest enforcement operation highlights the importance of compliance with these requirements. Residency permits, work authorisations and other relevant documents can be essential in determining whether a foreign national is legally entitled to remain in the country and undertake employment.
The Ministry of Interior urged expatriates to observe the kingdom’s residency, labour and border security rules. It also stressed the need to keep residency and employment documents up to date and follow the relevant legal requirements.
For foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh and other countries across South Asia, maintaining valid documentation and understanding the terms of their employment are important aspects of living and working legally in Saudi Arabia. Workers should ensure that their paperwork remains valid and seek guidance from the relevant authorities or their employers if they are uncertain about their legal status.
Saudi Arabia periodically conducts enforcement operations to identify alleged violations of residency, employment and border security regulations. Such measures form part of the authorities’ efforts to enforce the country’s rules governing residence and work.
The latest figures indicate the scale of the operation carried out over the seven-day period. However, the ministry’s statement did not provide further details about the legal proceedings facing those arrested, whether any individuals would be deported, or what action would be taken in individual cases.
The authorities’ appeal to expatriates to comply with the law serves as a reminder that maintaining valid residency and employment documents is essential for those living and working in the kingdom.
