Saudi Arabia has deported 14,905 people following a nationwide crackdown on residency, labour and border violations, with Ethiopian nationals making up 58% of those arrested for attempting to enter the kingdom illegally.
According to africa.businessinsider.com, the enforcement campaign, carried out between August 20 and August 26, led to the arrest of 14,434 people, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Of those detained, 6,976 were cited for residency violations, 4,110 for breaches of border security rules and 3,348 for labour violations, Gulf News reported.
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Ethiopians account for 58% of border arrests
The figures are notable for Africa because Ethiopian nationals accounted for 58% of the 1,450 people arrested while attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia illegally. Yemenis made up 41%, while other nationalities accounted for the remaining 1%.
Another 44 people were caught trying to leave the kingdom illegally.
Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East’s largest economies and a major destination for migrant labour, including workers from Africa and Asia.
The kingdom’s economy expanded by 4.6% in 2025, supported by higher oil production and strong non-oil activity, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The latest crackdown comes as Riyadh continues to tighten enforcement of immigration and employment rules while pushing ahead with its Vision 2030 programme, which has increased demand for labour across construction, hospitality, logistics and other sectors.
Tens of thousands remain in enforcement process
Authorities also detained 27 people accused of transporting, sheltering or employing people who were violating residency, labour or border regulations.
Beyond the 14,905 deportations already completed, Saudi authorities referred 18,914 people to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while another 2,867 were completing travel arrangements.
A further 29,938 expatriates ,27,957 men and 1,981 women, remained subject to procedures linked to immigration and residency enforcement.
The latest operation is part of a broader series of nationwide inspections targeting residency, labour and border violations, as well as individuals and businesses accused of helping people remain in the country unlawfully.
Similar campaigns have led to thousands of deportations in 2026, including more than 14,000 arrests in the week ending August 19 and over 10,000 deportations in single-week operations in July and May.
Saudi Arabia has warned that people who facilitate illegal entry, transport or shelter offenders could face up to 15 years in prison, fines of as much as SR1 million, and confiscation of vehicles or properties used in the offences.
