Ethiopia Repatriates 1,584 Citizens from Saudi Arabia in Latest Citizens-First Diplomatic Effort

Addis Ababa, November 9, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia has repatriated 1,584 nationals who had been facing difficult circumstances in Saudi Arabia over the past week, reaffirming the protection and welfare of citizens abroad as a key pillar of the country’s diplomatic engagement.

The returnees arrived on seven flights and comprise 1,432 men, 131 women and 21 children. The source also identifies 25 of those repatriated as being under the age of 18.

Upon arrival, the returnees are receiving care and support at the airport and temporary accommodation centres, while efforts are underway to reunite them with their families.

The latest repatriation forms part of an initiative launched on September 5, 2018, in the Ethiopian Calendar, through which more than 114,000 Ethiopians have so far been brought back home.

Safeguarding citizens wherever they are and responding to their needs in times of difficulty remain among the pillars of Ethiopia’s citizens-first diplomacy, giving practical expression to the country’s responsibility to protect its nationals beyond its borders.