Thousands of residency, labor, border violators arrested across KSA

15,000 held for labor, residency, border violations across KSA. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 12 December 2021
Follow

Thousands of residency, labor, border violators arrested across KSA

  • The authorities transferred 78,154 offenders to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested more than 15,000 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, an official report has revealed.
From Dec. 2 to 8, a total of 7,567 people were arrested for violations of residency rules, while 5,600 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 1,902 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 438 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 66 percent were Yemeni, 29 percent Ethiopian and 5 percent other nationalities.
The authorities transferred 78,154 offenders to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. A further 2,338 people were transferred to complete their travel reservations and 7,700 were deported.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be aiding illegal entry to the Kingdom, including transporting and providing shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), or confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.

 


First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

Updated 23 February 2026
Follow

First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

  • Revived commerce in Arabian Peninsula, according to historian
  • Diriyah highlighted as premier political and commercial center

RIYADH: The economy of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The main features of this economy is outlined in the book “Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State,” by Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen, the SPA reported.

The measures taken in those early days helped to ensure security, unify regions, and organize society. This assisted in stimulating trade, stabilizing markets, and enhancing life in Diriyah and surrounding areas.

 

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The book, published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, outlines how these actions facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its markets attracted merchants and students from across the region.

The local community relied on diverse activities including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.

Economic growth during this founding phase “solidified Diriyah’s position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula,” the SPA reported