SR 100,000 Fines, Deportation and Lifetime Ban on Expatriates under Huroob

Immigration is the international expansion of natives into a particular land of which they are not residents or the place they don't have the nationality to live or stay. When people cross the country’s borders they are known as migrants or immigrants.

Huroob is an Arabic expression which means Flee or Absentee or runs away (absent from work). As per Law of Saudi Arabia, the sponsor has to inform the passport department, if an expat is absent from job for a precise period of time to call him as Huroob.

It is very important for all expatriates to Check Huroob Status every now and then.

Huroob Rules: When a Saudi sponsor sets Huroob for an expatriate; following 3 rules apply to him immediately.

1-His Iqama becomes useless for him, in the books of government; he is an illegal resident now

2-It will be against the law for him to live in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

3-If he is caught by the Police or any other law enforcement agency, he will be deported from Saudi Arabia through exile centers also called “Tarheel”.

We have shared a procedure to Avoid Jail and Go Home for expatriates to whom Huroob has been set. They can get a Final Exit visa without removing Huroob.

Ban on Expatriates with Huroob Status: In Jeddah, Al-Madinah Arabic daily newspaper quoted that the Director of Makkah passports police name Maj. Gen. Khalafallah Al-Tuwairqi, said that the employees who run away from their sponsors and declared as Huroob will not at all be permitted to revisit the Kingdom again.

We have already discussed in detail about the Duration of Ban in another article.

Heavy Fine on Expatriates with Huroob Status: He said that any expat who runs away will be charged SR 100,000, deported and banned from entering the country again.

Al-Tuwairqi said that last year there were 480,000 immigrants, who violated the rules of residency and employment in Makkah area, and so were expelled out of the Kingdom.

If an employer sets a Huroob on an expatriate, he can remove huroob following this procedure. In fact, now sponsors can remove huroob online without visiting MOL. Recommended: How to Remove Huroob from Iqama?

Heavy fines to support expatriates with Huroob Status: He told the newspaper that 16,386 immigrants and locals, as well as women, were charged with keeping or protecting banned immigrants.

Tuwairqi said that a large number of immigrants were living in the country with invalid expired visit visas and that some of their families were living illegally.

The Director instructed Saudi locals to not give shelter or support to illegal immigrants and said that if it happens, they will also be charged for up to SR 100,000 and locked up in jail for about two years, faces the confiscation of their establishments and disallowed from employment for five years.

Heavy Fines for not setting Huroob Status on Expatriates: If a sponsor fails to report the runaway worker, he (sponsor) will also be penalized as it is obligatory in Saudi Work Law.

The punishment for not informing about Huroob is SR 5,000 for the one time, SR 10,000 for the second time and SR 15,000 for the third time along with one-month jail. 

Huroob labor shall be deported at the expense of the sponsor if he fails to inform the Ministry. If Huroob worker was the sole proprietor of the business, he shall be expelled on his own expenses.

Transfer of Sponsorship under Huroob: Although generally it is not possible but only under one condition, an expatriate can transfer his sponsorship even when he is under Huroob.

He said if any Umrah pilgrims remain in the Kingdom after the expiry of their visas, their behavior will be counted as unlawful.