RIYADH: Following the arrest of 63 illegal domestic aides, Madinah Police on Friday warned people not to hire domestic aides through illegal channels.
Major Hussein Al-Qahtani, a spokesman for Madinah Police, said those arrested were men and women of African origin and were working illegally in Saudi households.
The suspects, who were apprehended during raids made by police in Madinah, were handed to the competent authorities for necessary action.
Madinah district police chief Maj. Gen. Abdul Hadi Al-Shahrani advised citizens and expatriates not to deal with such offenders to preserve the health, safety and security of their family members.
“Don’t get attracted toward the runaway domestic aides who come to your doorstep for employment,” he said.
Those arrested recently included workers without resident permits, persons who do not hold the right professions, those who work for different sponsors, people who had run away from their respective sponsors, and illegal vendors hawking at public market places.
Police said the raids were conducted with the cooperation of the other relevant government agencies who were involved in maintaining the local regulations.
Those arrested have been kept in prisons and will be deported after a formal inquiry to ascertain the degree of their respective offenses.
According to officials, most of the crimes in the Kingdom are committed by illegal residents who have overstayed their visas.
Al-Shahrani asserted that the campaign will be continued to flush out illegal workers from the region. The security authorities conduct regular inspections to apprehend such workers to curb crimes like theft, sorcery and brewing liquor.
Some employers prefer to hire domestic aides locally to cut down on recruitment costs. A Saudi sponsor has to pay a minimum of SR15,000 to recruit a maid from abroad.
During the amnesty period offered by the late King Abdullah, iIlegal residents were allowed to leave the Kingdom without any penalties during the grace period.
The Ministry of Interior had earlier advised all illegal expatriates in the Kingdom to correct their work and residency status following the end of the amnesty period on Nov. 1, 2013 or leave the country.
Saudi families reminded against hiring maids illegally after dozens arrested in crackdown
Saudi families reminded against hiring maids illegally after dozens arrested in crackdown
Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations
- Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday announced the suspension of an Umrah company and its overseas agent for failing to provide accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.
It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.
This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said.
"The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality," it added.
Last June, the ministry suspended seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims.
In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone.
Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.
