Expats could face SAR 50,000 fine for running businesses without permits

Saudi Arabia’s Passport General Department will impose a fine of up to SAR 50,000 on expatriates who own and operate private business illegally across the Kingdom, the state-run authority said on its Twitter account. 

Violators will be also sentenced to a six-month jail term and deported from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia had earlier ordered expatriates living in the Kingdom without valid identity documents to leave it before the end of an amnesty that expired in late July 2017.

As many as 700,000 expatriates in violation of residence and employment regulations have returned to their respective countries.

Another amnesty was extended for one month starting September 2016.