A Muslim man walks past as he reads the Koran at the Al-Rajhi mosque east of Riyadh
A Muslim man walks past as he reads the Koran at the Al-Rajhi mosque east of Riyadh Reuters

Saudi Arabia has threatened to deport any non-Muslim foreigners who don't respect the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan by eating, drinking or smoking in public.

An interior ministry statement on the official SPA state news agency urges non-Muslim expatriates in the kingdom to "respect the sentiments of Muslims by not eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan's daylight hours in public places, including roads and workplaces."

Those who violate the regulations will be deported or sacked, according to the statement.

"They are not excused for being non-Muslim," it said, adding that "anyone living in this country should follow the laws of the Kingdom, including respecting religious sentiments".

The statement also asked companies to transmit the instructions to their employees.

Millions of Muslims from around the globe are preparing to observe Ramadan, the religious month of fasting.

For 30 days, they will not eat or drink from sunrise and sundown and refrain from sexual intercourse, smoking or profanity in a bid to become closer to Allah.

They are also encouraged to give back to the community and take part in charitable deeds.

Saudi Arabia applies a strict version of sharia law and it hosts more than nine million foreigners.

Last march, the Kingdom started a crackdown on illegal workers. The government issued an amnesty period in April 2013 giving illegal migrants seven months to gain legal status. Since then, one million Bangladeshis, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis have left.

The government created a task force of 1,200 labour ministry officials who raided shops, construction sites, restaurants and businesses in a hunt for foreign workers employed without permits.

More than 16,000 people were rounded up.