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Riyadh legalizes status of Yemenis illegally living in Saudi Arabia

Xinhua, August 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that the status of 439,491 Yemenis illegally living in the Kingdom after they fled their conflict-torn country has been legalized.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Passport Department urged all Yemenis in the oil-rich Kingdom to legalize their residences before a grace period expires on August 16.

It warned that legal actions would be taken against violators after the end of the grace period.

Earlier, the Kingdom announced the grace period in response to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's call for supporting the Yemeni government and citizens.

The period ended on July 7, but Saudi Arabia extended it again to August 16 at a request by the exiled Yemeni government in Riyadh.

Yemenis illegally living in Saudi Arabia can get renewable six-month visit visas after getting travel documents from their government. They are also allowed to work in line with the country's regulations.

On March 26, the Saudi-led coalition started airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi group and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was accused of supporting the Houthis to remove Hadi and to reinstate the toppled government. Endit