Saudi Arabia has announced the start of procedures to regularize the status of Yemeni nationals residing in the Kingdom through irregular channels, in a move that comes as Riyadh provides broad political and military support to Yemen’s internationally recognized government following the launch of Operation “Dawn of Yemen.”

The Saudi Ministry of Interior said the decision was issued under directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in response to a request from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, to address the status of Yemeni nationals currently residing in the Kingdom irregularly.

According to the ministry, the regularization process will be carried out in coordination with the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Human Resources and Social Development, as well as the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The ministry said applicants must hold a valid Yemeni passport to benefit from the initiative, adding that the starting date, procedures and eligibility requirements will be announced through the official channels of the relevant Saudi authorities.

The Yemeni government welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant humanitarian initiative reflecting the depth of relations between Yemen and Saudi Arabia and an extension of the Kingdom’s longstanding support for the Yemeni people.

Decision Comes Amid Major Saudi Support for “Dawn of Yemen”

The move comes at a critical stage in Yemen, as Saudi Arabia has stepped up its support for the Yemeni government and armed forces following the launch of Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” a military campaign aimed at restoring state institutions and retaking areas under Houthi control.

Saudi-led coalition support has emerged as a major component of the ongoing campaign. Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki previously said around 100 aircraft were participating in operations supporting the campaign, underscoring the scale of air power mobilized alongside Yemeni government forces.

The coalition has also expanded operations along the Red Sea front. Al-Maliki said coalition naval forces carried out a military operation in Hodeidah Governorate, destroying Houthi military targets and disrupting what the coalition described as preparations for imminent attacks against shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea.

The regularization initiative therefore adds a humanitarian and social dimension to Saudi Arabia’s broader engagement with Yemen at a time of intensified military and political coordination between Riyadh and the Yemeni leadership.

As Operation “Dawn of Yemen” expands across several fronts, Saudi support is increasingly operating on parallel tracks — military support for government forces, political backing for the internationally recognized authorities, and humanitarian measures affecting Yemenis residing inside the Kingdom.