Saudi: Crackdown on illegal expats set to restart after July 3

June 29, 2013

Madinah, Jun 29: Authorities will restart crackdown on all residency and labor violators immediately after the July 3 amnesty is over.

In a recent letter sent to the Council of Saudi Chambers, the Ministry of Labor said that in coordination with the Ministry of Interior it will act tough against the violators including employers, expatriate workers and individuals after the end of the office hours on Wednesday, July 3.

The letter said teams from ministries of labor and interior will intensify regular inspection campaigns immediately after the grace period.

The letter, sent by Deputy Minister of Labor Dr. Mufarrij Al-Huqbani, was addressed to Abdullah Al-Mubti, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Chambers. Al-Mubti forwarded the letter to all chambers of commerce in the country urging the employers to use the remaining grace period and rectify the status of their workers during the stipulated time.

Recently, several chambers of commerce and employers in different sectors have sought an extension of the amnesty citing logistic and administrative difficulties in completing status correction procedures for their employees. In seeking the extension, the employers also mentioned the overcrowding in the Passports Department and other concerned offices.

The warning letter from the ministry indicates the government's determination to cleanse the state of all illegals within the stipulated period. The letter contains all details related to the procedures for rectification, the facilities and exemptions provided by the concerned authorities so that the employers and workers have no difficulty in going about their correction procedures.

Among the procedures mentioned in the letter is allowing expatriate workers to change their profession to any of the jobs except those restricted for Saudi nationals, according to the need of the employer and the worker's qualifications. The responsibility for the worker's capability to work in the assigned profession lies with the employer. The profession can be changed electronically and easily by visiting the ministry's website.

Visiting the labor office is necessary for professions in the medical field and engineering, the letter pointed out.

Diplomatic missions of several countries have been assisting their nationals in finding jobs according to their skills and as per professions mentioned in their residency permits. Hundreds of Saudi companies have participated in job fairs organized by Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Philippine and Indonesian missions in different cities.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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