Saudi Anti-Corruption Authority Detains 158 in September Crackdown
RIYADH, October 1, 2026 — Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption watchdog detained 158 citizens and residents in September as part of a sweeping investigation into bribery and abuse of official influence, the authority announced on Thursday.
The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, known as Nazaha, said it carried out 1,758 inspection visits during the month and opened investigations against 381 suspects, including employees of the ministries of Interior, Justice, Education, and Municipalities and Housing, according to media reports.
Some of those detained were later released on bail in accordance with Saudi criminal procedure rules, while legal proceedings continue ahead of their referral to the judiciary, the authority said.
Detentions Rise Sharply From August
The September figures mark a sharp escalation from the previous month. In August, Nazaha detained 108 people after investigating 352 suspects and conducting 2,659 inspection visits, officials said.
The rise in detentions comes as the Kingdom intensifies its campaign against financial and administrative corruption, a central pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda. Saudi authorities have steadily widened the crackdown beyond high-profile cases to target graft across ministries and government bodies, state media reported.
Ministries Under Scrutiny
Those investigated in September included employees of four major ministries — Interior, Justice, Education, and Municipalities and Housing — suspected of offenses ranging from bribery to exploiting official positions for personal gain, according to the authority’s statement.
Nazaha routinely handles criminal cases involving state employees and private-sector partners accused of bribery, influence peddling, forgery and misuse of public funds. Under Saudi law, criminal proceedings must be completed before detainees are referred to the courts, officials said.
Public Urged to Report Corruption
The authority again urged the public to report suspected financial or administrative corruption through its official channels, including its toll-free number 980, as it presses ahead with its oversight mandate.
Trade sources said the sustained pace of monthly enforcement reflects Riyadh’s determination to clean up public administration and strengthen transparency across government institutions, in line with the Kingdom’s long-running anti-corruption drive that began in 2017 with the detention of senior officials and business figures.
Authorities have pledged to continue the monthly crackdown, with officials stressing that no individual is above accountability regardless of position or rank, state media reported.
