Article 5 of the Saudi Anti-Begging Law

This is the main penalties article of the Law, and it escalates as follows:

1. The basic penalty: Anyone who makes a profession of begging, or incites another to do so, or agrees with them or helps them in any way, is punished by imprisonment for up to 6 months, or a fine of up to SAR 50,000, or both.
2. An organized group: If the professional begging, the managing of beggars, or the incitement, agreement or assistance in any of these takes place within an organized group that makes a profession of begging, the penalty becomes imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or both.
3. Deportation: A non-Saudi punished under paragraph 1 or 2 is deported from the Kingdom after serving the penalty, in accordance with the established legal procedures, and is barred from returning except to perform Hajj or Umrah. The wife of a Saudi man, the husband of a Saudi woman, and her children are exempt from deportation.
4. Repeat offenses: The penalty may be doubled for a repeat offense, provided it does not exceed twice the prescribed maximum.

Note that the penalty is tied to professional begging, meaning under Article 1 someone arrested for the second time or more, and to those who incite, agree or help in that. The text sets only a maximum, and fixing the penalty within that maximum is for the court. Added to these penalties is what Article 6 provides: confiscation of money the beggar obtained from begging or that would be used in it, or a judgment imposing a fine equal to its value if it cannot be seized. Anyone facing a charge under this article should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.