Article 13 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
المادة 13 من نظام الوقاية من متلازمة العوز المناعي المكتسب الإيدز وحقوق المصابين وواجباتهم
The article obliges the Ministry of Health to take the necessary measures to test those coming to the Kingdom for work or residence to ensure they are free of AIDS, and refers the testing procedures and their effects to the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بالإجراءات المتبعة خارج المملكة لفحص الراغبين في القدوم للعمل أو الإقامة في المملكة, تتخذ الوزارة الإجراءات اللازمة لفحص القادمين إلى المملكة بقصد العمل أو الإقامة فيها؛ وذلك للتأكد من خلوهم من الإصابة. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط التي تتبع عند الفحص والآثار المترتبة عليه.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 13 explained in plain English
This article regulates testing those coming to the Kingdom for work or residence.
The rule: the Ministry of Health takes the necessary measures to test those coming to the Kingdom for work or residence in it, in order to ensure they are free of infection.
Its scope: the article covers those coming for work or residence. The text does not mention other categories of arrivals.
Its relation to testing abroad: the article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the procedures followed outside the Kingdom to test those wishing to come for work or residence." This means that testing carried out abroad before arrival remains in place, and the Ministry's testing does not replace it but is added to it.
What the article refers to the Implementing Regulations:
- The procedures and controls followed in testing.
- The effects resulting from testing.
The article itself therefore does not specify what follows when infection is established in this testing, and leaves that to the Regulations.
Relation to other articles: Article 12 regulates the deportation of infected residents who are not claiming special rights after their rights are settled.
A person with a question about the testing requirements that apply to them may contact the competent health bodies or consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations.
Practical example
A contracting company in Riyadh recruits workers from abroad, and they had medical tests in their own countries before arriving. Under the article, this does not prevent the Ministry of Health from taking the necessary measures to test them after they arrive to ensure they are free of infection, according to the procedures and controls set by the Implementing Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentGeneral Practice lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
General Practice lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
khobar Notary
Frequently asked questions about Article 13 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
Are people coming to work in Saudi Arabia tested for AIDS?
Yes. The Ministry takes the necessary measures to test those coming for work or residence to ensure they are free of infection.
Does testing in the worker's home country replace testing in the Kingdom?
The article provides that the procedures followed outside the Kingdom are not prejudiced, with the Ministry taking its measures to test those arriving.
What follows from the result of the test?
The Implementing Regulations set the procedures and controls followed in testing and the effects resulting from it.
More articles on AIDS Testing and Reporting Infection
- Article 5
The article tasks the National Program with activating prevention, care and treatment and designating reference laboratories, and requires health bodies to send suspected samples to them and to report all infected cases to the Ministry confidentially.
1- يقوم البرنامج الوطني - بالتنسيق مع الجهات الصحية الأخرى - بتفعيل إجراءات الوقاية والرعاية والتأهيل، وتحديد المختبرات المرجعية للتشخيص، والتثبت من الإصابة بال
- Article 9
The article bars imposing an AIDS test except in specific cases, including applicants to health colleges, health and military jobs, pre-marital checks and pregnant women, without prejudice to Article 13.
مع عدم الإخلال بما ورد في المادة (الثالثة عشرة) من هذا النظام، لا يجوز فرض اختبار الإيدز إلا في الحالات الآتية: 1- المتقدمين للكليات والمعاهد الصحية المدنية وال
- Article 15
The article obliges health bodies to test a suspected person to ensure they are free of AIDS and provide health care to them, requires notifying the National Program if they refuse testing, and refers the procedures to the Implementing Regulations.
على الجهات الصحية إجراء الفحص على المشتبه فيه, للتأكد من خلوه من الإيدز, وتقديم الرعاية الصحية له, لضمان عدم انتقال المرض إلى غيره, فإن رفض المشتبه فيه إجراء ال
- Article 20
The article obliges the Ministry of Health and other health bodies to take the measures needed to encourage individuals to take voluntary AIDS tests, as a step toward early intervention and control.
تتخذ الوزارة والجهات الصحية الأخرى الإجراءات اللازمة لتشجيع الأفراد على إجراء الفحوص الطوعية للكشف عن الإصابة بالإيدز بين أفراد المجتمع حتى يُمكِن اتخاذ التدابي
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.