Indian expats in Saudi warned against touts and illegal agents

“It has come to the notice of the Embassy that touts and illegal agents are trying to mislead and exploit Indian nationals by offering them to get them exit from Tarheels. The authorities of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have made it clear that there is no fee for obtaining EXIT and the services at the Tarheels are free during the grace period,” stated the a release issued from the embassy on Thursday.

Anyone demanding or paying any money to obtain exit is violating the rules and regulations of the Kingdom and are likely to face penal action. It has come to the notice of the embassy that some touts and illegal agents are misleading the applicants by issuing them with numbers claiming these numbers to be EXIT numbers. Many people who obtained such EXIT numbers through touts and illegal agents have since been returned from Airports. These touts and illegal agents as also those who obtained EXIT numbers through them are likely to face penal action under forgery which includes jail sentence and ban on return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it said.

“All applicants who have obtained travel documents from the Embassy are urged to approach Tarheels directly for exit and not to be misled and cheated by touts and illegal agents. Anyone having information about such touts and illegal agents may share it with the Embassy for initiating appropriate action,” it clarified.

The Embassy also urged all Indian citizens to follow the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia. “The Embassy is confident that all those who are eligible for exit will eventually get it from the Tarheels during the extended grace period. The Embassy officials deployed at Riyadh Tarheel can be contacted at the helpline numbers 0546843866, 0546843894, 0546843836, 0546843746 & 0546843903 for further assistance. The Embassy will also continue to pursue the matter with the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia,” the release said.