Runaway expat workers in Saudi face permanent ban from the country

Workers that run away from their sponsors and are officially given Huroob status will never be able to return to Saudi Arabia, an official has been quoted as saying.

Director of Makkah passports, police major general Khalafallah Al-Tuwairqi, told Al-Madina newspaper those officially declared a run away will be fined SAR100,000 ($26,668), deported and banned from returning to the kingdom.

As many as 480,000 expats were deported from Makkah under the process last year, he said, and 16,386 expats and Saudis were fined for sheltering or transporting illegal expats.

Saudi nationals face a fine of up to SAR100,000, two-year prison sentence, the closure of their establishments or a ban on recruitment for five years harbouring or transporting illegal expats.

“If you shelter, transport or employ illegal expatriates you will face grave consequences,” he warned Saudis and legal expats, according to the publication.

Of those illegally staying in the kingdom, some entered the country on Umrah visas and failed to leave before the expiry period.

“Umrah pilgrims who remain in the kingdom after the expiry of their visas will be considered illegal overstayers and dealt with accordingly,” he said.