Saudi authorities have dismissed social media claims suggesting expatriates with expired iqamas will automatically be marked as “huroob” under a new residency system.
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Officials clarified that no such policy has been introduced and described the circulating reports as inaccurate and not based on any official announcement.
Under Saudi labour and residency regulations, huroob status is used to indicate that a foreign worker has absconded from employment. However, authorities stressed that this status cannot be assigned automatically due to an expired iqama alone.
Saudi Arabia has clarified widespread social media claims suggesting that expatriates with expired iqamas will be automatically marked as “huroob” under a new system. Officials and labor regulations confirm that no such automatic mechanism exists, and the reports circulating… pic.twitter.com/yKO0513NiY
— Bloom Pakistan (@bloom_pakistan) April 28, 2026
Instead, a huroob case can only be initiated through a formal legal process by an employer or sponsor using authorised government channels. The employer must submit an official request before the case is reviewed and processed under existing regulations.
Authorities also rejected online rumours claiming a new automated system would begin classifying expired iqamas as huroob cases by June 2026.
No statement supporting such claims has been issued by the Saudi Press Agency or the Ministry of Interior, which are the official sources for labour and immigration-related announcements.
Legal experts noted that while allowing an iqama to expire can result in fines, penalties, or administrative restrictions, it does not automatically label a worker as absconding.
Workers with expired residency permits may still have opportunities to renew their documents, resolve legal issues, or regularise their status depending on their circumstances and employer cooperation.
Saudi Arabia continues to manage residency and immigration services through digital platforms such as Absher, which allows sponsors to report or cancel huroob cases in line with legal procedures. In some cases, sponsors may withdraw a huroob report within a specific time period if conditions are met.
Officials urged expatriates and residents to avoid relying on unverified claims shared on social media or messaging apps, warning that false information can create unnecessary confusion and panic.
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They advised workers to follow updates only through official government channels for accurate information on residency laws, labour rules, and immigration procedures in the kingdom.