JEDDAH: A total of 1,359,345 violators were caught in the security field campaigns from Wednesday, 26/2/1439 AH until the end of Thursday 21/10/1439 AH. The campaigns were held to track down and arrest the violators of residence and work regulations and border security in all regions of the Kingdom.
The total number of violators caught during the campaign was 1,359,345, including 1,017,427 violators of residency regulations, 233,125 violators of work regulations, and 108,793 violators of border security regulations.
The total number of those caught trying to sneak across the border into the Kingdom was 21,112 people, 52 percent of whom were Yemenis, 45 percent Ethiopians, and 3 percent from other nationalities. Moreover, 882 people were caught trying to sneak across the border outside the Kingdom.
The total number of citizens arrested for their involvement in transporting or harboring of violators was 446. Legal procedures were completed against 419 of them and they were consequently released. The authorities are completing the implementation of the regulations against the other 27 Saudi detainees.
1,359,345 violators caught in joint field campaigns across KSA
1,359,345 violators caught in joint field campaigns across KSA
- Saudi authorities are completing the implementation of the regulations against the other 27 Saudi detainees
- 882 people were caught trying to sneak across the border outside the Kingdom
Carved by time: Saudi Arabia’s hidden geotourism gem of Razan
- Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment
- This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road
AL-LITH: Sixty kilometers north of Al-Lith governorate in the Kingdom's west, rising above the shifting sands and valleys of the Makkah region, lies a place where the earth itself tells a story. This is Razan, a geological wonder where history is not written in ink, but etched into the stone by the patient hands of wind, water, and time.
Perched atop a high rocky mass and flanked by valleys to the northwest and southeast, Razan stands in natural isolation. This geographic solitude has acted as a guardian, preserving a landscape that feels almost otherworldly — a pristine stage set by nature over millennia.
The place is defined by its striking rock formations: dense clusters of stone, stepped ridges that resemble ancient staircases, and natural ceilings sculpted by the relentless flow of seasonal torrents.
The visual impact is one of dramatic contrast — the heaviness of solid rock balanced against open, airy spaces carved by erosion. Fine channels and intricate flow patterns mark the stone, serving as fossilized evidence of the water that once rushed through these corridors, shaping the land into a rugged work of art.
Nature’s infrastructure
But Razan is more than just a scenic marvel; for centuries, it served as a lifeline. The same forces that sculpted the cliffs also hollowed out natural rock basins. These geological depressions acted as seasonal reservoirs, catching rainwater and supplementing nearby wells. Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment.
This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road. The sturdy, elevated terrain provided a natural pathway for pilgrims, offering stability and protection on their spiritual journey toward Makkah.
Today, Razan stands at the intersection of heritage and opportunity. No longer just a passage for pilgrims, it is emerging as a valuable asset for geotourism. Its unique topography offers a visual feast for travelers and a treasure trove for scientists studying geological history.
As Saudi Arabia moves toward the goals of Vision 2030, sites like Razan are finding new purpose. By transforming this geological narrative into a tourism destination, the region aims to preserve its natural heritage while breathing new life into the local economy.
