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The Ministry of Interior announced on July 12 2026 that joint campaigns from July 2 to 8 had led to the arrest of 15430 violators of residency labor and border security regulations across the kingdom. Official figures released by the ministry broke down the total as 7913 arrests for residency offenses 3480 for labor law violations and 4037 for border infractions while border patrols separately intercepted 1542 individuals attempting unauthorized entry. Of those attempting illegal entry 53 percent were Ethiopian 46 percent were Yemeni and 1 percent were from other nationalities according to the ministry data which also reported 30 arrests for illegal exit attempts and 27 detentions of people accused of transporting sheltering or employing violators.
The interior ministry reported that 29286 expatriates including 27127 men and 2159 women are now undergoing legal procedures as a direct result of the inspections. Among them 17353 have been referred for completion of travel documents 5438 are having travel arrangements finalized and 11800 have been deported the ministry said. These processing figures build on the initial arrests and reflect coordinated action by multiple security agencies involved in the weekly sweeps.
The latest operation follows a similar campaign for the period of June 11 to 17 during which the Ministry of Interior reported 15288 arrests according to an Arab News account of the prior statement. Regular weekly enforcement drives have produced comparable numbers in recent months as authorities maintain pressure on compliance throughout Saudi Arabia the ministry updates show. Coordination among government bodies has allowed the campaigns to cover residency workplaces and border zones systematically.
In its announcement the ministry described assisting violators through transport shelter or employment as a major crime. Convictions for such offenses can bring penalties of up to 15 years in prison fines reaching 1 million Saudi riyals and confiscation of any vehicles or property used the interior ministry warned. The statement forms part of a broader effort to deter both direct violations and support networks that enable them.
Earlier ministry releases cited in regional reporting including from the Times of India have placed similar weekly enforcement actions in the range of 15000 arrests consistently since late June 2026. The interior ministry has used these periodic summaries to publicize both the scale of detentions and the outcomes in terms of deportations and legal referrals. Data from the campaigns continue to highlight the focus on maintaining order in labor markets and at national borders.
