Amid visa ban, Saudi Arabia arrests over 18,000 illegals; violators could face 15 years in jail

In just one week, Saudi authorities arrested 18,407 people for breaking residency, labour and border security rules, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The update comes as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned visas. The Kingdom has suspended Umrah visas, business visit visas and family visit visas.

Among the illegals arrested, 12,995 were caught for violating residency laws, 3,512 for illegal border crossings and 1,900 for labour-related offences. Among those trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 66% were Ethiopian, 28% Yemeni and 6% from other nationalities.

Also, 67 people were caught attempting to exit into neighbouring countries, and 21 were held for helping or hiding violators. The Ministry of Interior warned that those helping illegal entry could face up to 15 years in jail, fines of SR1 million (about ₹2.3 crore) and seizure of their vehicles and property.

Authorities urged citizens to report any suspected violations via the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions. They have also been asked to use 999 or 996 in other parts of the country. Strict action is being taken to maintain national security and legal order, according to the Arab News.

What is Saudi Arabia’s visa ban?

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended certain visas for people from 14 countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The decision has been taken to control overcrowding during the Hajj pilgrimage. This ban will stay in effect until mid-June, when the pilgrimage ends.

As per media reports, the visas affected include Umrah, business visit and family visit visas. However, there’s no official confirmation yet from Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry.

The decision has disappointed many pilgrims from South Asia, where thousands travel annually for Hajj. Saudi authorities have said the move aims to stop people from misusing visit or Umrah visas to perform Hajj without proper registration.

Saudi officials claim that many foreigners have overstayed illegally to join the pilgrimage. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has directed stricter visa enforcement to ensure a safe and well-organised Hajj season.

This step is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to manage the large crowds. The Kingdom has plans to improve safety during one of the world’s biggest religious events.