The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia has reported that administrative committees across various regional passport departments issued 22,894 administrative decisions during the month of Rabi Al-Awwal 1448 Hijri. These decisions relate to violations of residency, labor, and border-security regulations. Penalties for these violations are determined by the nature of the case and can include imprisonment, financial fines, and deportation. Authorities clarified that these actions target both citizens and residents rather than any single nationality. Given the presence of approximately 2.74 million Indian expatriates in the Kingdom, officials emphasized the importance of compliance for workers, small business owners, drivers, technicians, construction staff, hospitality workers, and service-sector employees. Employers and individuals are warned that providing employment, shelter, transportation, or assistance to individuals violating these regulations is a punishable offense.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, non-Saudi workers must be employed in the profession registered on their work permit. Changing professions requires following prescribed legal procedures. Working for a different employer or on an individual basis without proper legal authorization is prohibited. Employers are also barred from hiring workers without following established legal transfer protocols. On September 8, 2026, the Saudi HRSD updated digital services for expatriate worker transfers via the Qiwa platform. Transfers must be completed through this official system, which is automated and free of charge. Workers are advised to avoid informal employment, as unauthorized job switches create compliance risks for both the worker and the employer. Under Article 38 of the Labor Law, employers may not assign work outside of a worker's registered profession without a legal change.
For temporary assignments, the Ajeer platform provides a legal route for obtaining work authorizations. In cases involving domestic workers, the Musaned system manages contract terminations and work-stoppage procedures introduced in March 2026. Indian workers are urged to verify their Iqama validity, registered profession, Qiwa employment contract, and any necessary Ajeer permits. Saudi authorities stressed that the 22,894 figure refers to administrative decisions, not necessarily the number of deportations or cases involving any specific nationality. Violations can be reported to 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions of the Kingdom. Reports are kept confidential.
