Ministry of Interior joint inspections in Saudi Arabia arrested 13,628 people in the week of 17–23 September 2026 (6,593 residency, 3,531 border-security, 3,504 labour violations); 12,628 were deported and 18,549 referred to embassies for travel documents. In the first week of October 2026, more than 10,000 were deported and around 14,000 arrested. Facilitating illegal residency — transporting, sheltering or employing violators — carries up to 15 years’ prison and SAR 1 million in fines, plus vehicle and property confiscation. Residents are urged to report violations on 911.
What it means for you: this is the other side of the amnesty coin — anyone with a lapsed iqama, undocumented work or an absconding report faces real, weekly enforcement, and employers and landlords face the same penalties for sheltering or employing violators.
Sources: https://hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/industry/saudi-arabia-deports-over-12600-expatriates-in-a-week-long-labour-crackdown/134522973, https://tbmnews.net/en/2026/10/11/saudi-authorities-deport-over-10000-migrants/. Related: Iqama renewal fees.