RIYADH - Saudi Arabia reported 13,251 repatriations in its latest nationwide residency, labour and border-security enforcement update.

The Ministry of Interior said inspections across the kingdom from July 16 to 22 recorded 14,970 violations: 7,437 involving residency rules, 3,991 involving border-security laws and 3,542 involving labour regulations. The figures were published in a July 25 Saudi Press Agency update.

Border authorities also apprehended 1,626 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia unlawfully. The ministry said 62% were Ethiopian, 37% Yemeni and 1% from other nationalities. Another 33 people were apprehended while attempting to leave unlawfully, while 18 people were arrested for transporting, sheltering or employing violators.

The repatriation figure was reported separately from the week’s inspection total. The ministry said 30,546 expatriates — 28,557 men and 1,989 women — were undergoing enforcement procedures.

It said 17,747 people had been instructed to contact their embassies or consulates for travel documents, 6,113 had been advised to arrange travel, and 13,251 had been repatriated. The update did not say all those repatriated came from the July 16-22 inspections.

A week earlier, Saudi authorities reported 15,836 residency, labour and border-security violations during inspections from July 9 to 15 and 12,211 repatriations. The latest reported repatriation total was therefore 1,040 higher than in the previous weekly update.

Saudi Arabia is a major labour destination for Filipino workers. Philippine Department of Migrant Workers preliminary 2025 deployment data recorded 386,699 land-based OFW deployments to Saudi Arabia, second only to the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia ranked first for new-hire land-based deployments, with 129,180. The department says the 2025 figures remain preliminary and subject to final evaluation.

Indonesia also continues to allow authorised formal-sector placements to Saudi Arabia, while domestic-sector placements remain under a moratorium.

Indonesia’s migrant worker protection ministry reiterated that distinction in February after authorities stopped a non-procedural recruitment attempt involving workers promised domestic jobs in Saudi Arabia.

In July, the ministry imposed a three-month partial suspension on a placement company after finding recruitment and worker-rights violations in a case involving an Indonesian worker employed in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said anyone facilitating unlawful entry, transport or shelter could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR1 million, with vehicles and properties used in an offence subject to confiscation.

The ministry described such conduct as “major crimes that warrant arrest.”