Saudi authorities arrested 15,288 people in one week for breaching residency, work, and border security regulations, according to a report from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 20, 2026.
Breakdown of Arrests by Violation Type
A total of 7,864 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,576 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,848 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,668 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 53 percent were Ethiopian, 46 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.
Additional Arrests and Penalties
A further 54 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 24 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Reporting Violations
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
