Trending:Iran protestsMerz in IndiaJerome PowellAnti-ICE protestsGolden Globes 2026India vs NZSaudi Arabia deports 10,000 illegal residents in week-long crackdownFP News Desk • January 12, 2026, 13:56:18 ISTWhatsapp Facebook TwitterSaudi Arabia arrested 18,836 illegal residents and deported over 10,000 people in the first week of January as part of intensified nationwide inspections, the Ministry of Interior said. AdvertisementSubscribe Join Us+ Follow us On GoogleChoose Firstpost on GoogleThe arrests took place between January 1 and 7 through joint operations. (Reuters)Saudi Arabia arrested 18,836 illegal residents and deported more than 10,000 people during the first week of January, as authorities intensified inspections across the Kingdom to curb violations of residency, labour and border laws. The arrests took place between January 1 and 7 through joint operations involving security forces and government agencies, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday. Residency violations top arrest figuresOf those detained, 11,710 were found to have violated the Residency Law, while 4,239 breached Border Security regulations and 2,887 were in violation of the Labour Law, according to the ministry. The ministry said 10,195 individuals have already been deported. A further 20,956 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to secure travel documents, while 5,201 people were transferred to complete travel arrangements ahead of their removal from the Kingdom. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADAuthorities also arrested 1,741 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally.
