LONDON: Saudi Arabia is to begin rectifying the status of Yemeni nationals living in the Kingdom without legal residency documents, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

To qualify, Yemeni applicants must hold a Yemeni passport, the ministry said.

Officials will later announce the start date and detailed regulations through the official accounts of the General Directorate of Passports and other relevant government agencies.

The move follows a directive from King Salman after Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, requested that Saudi authorities address the status of Yemenis residing in the country through irregular means, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Interior Ministry said it would carry out the initiative with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Saudi officials described the effort as part of the Kingdom’s continued support for Yemen and its people.

Yemen’s president expressed his “sincere thanks and appreciation” to Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for directives to regularise the status of Yemenis living in Saudi Arabia without legal residency.

In a post on X, the president said the directives reflected Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Yemen and its people, easing their suffering and helping achieve their aspirations for security, stability and peace.

The announcement came hours after Yemeni government forces said they had seized control of the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the port city of Mokha in an operation targeting Iran-backed Houthi militia.