In force
Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
نظام مكافحة جرائم الاتجار بالأشخاص
The law defines its terms, prohibits trafficking in any person and coercion, sets penalties for committing, using physical force in, or contributing to trafficking, aggravating cases, confiscation of funds and tools, exempted persons, and penalties for legal persons.
- Articles
- 17
- In force
- 17
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 21/7/1430 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م / 40 بتاريخ 21 / 7 / 1430 · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم 244 بتاريخ 20 / 7 / 1430
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Anti-Human Trafficking Law by topic
Defining Human Trafficking and Its Forms4 articlesPenalty for Human Trafficking4 articlesAggravated Penalties for Trafficking1 articleFailure to Report and Obstructing Justice3 articlesExemption from Penalty and Confiscation2 articlesLiability of Legal Persons1 articleRights of Trafficking Victims2 articles
Articles of the Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
- Article 1The article defines four terms used in the Law: human trafficking, transnational crime, organized criminal group and child.
- Article 2The article prohibits trafficking in any person in any form, and lists its means, such as coercion, deception, kidnapping and exploiting influence or vulnerability, and its prohibited purposes, such as sexual abuse, forced labor and begging.
- Article 3The article punishes the crime of human trafficking with imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, or both.
- Article 4The article requires the penalties in the Law to be increased in nine cases, including where the crime is committed by an organized group, against a woman or a child, or with a weapon.
- Article 5The article provides that the victim's consent is not taken into account in any crime provided for in the Anti-Human Trafficking Law.
- Article 6The article punishes with imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or both, anyone who incites false testimony or false evidence, or uses force to interfere with the work of officials enforcing the Law.
- Article 7The article punishes with imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or both, anyone who knows of a trafficking crime or an attempt and does not report it at once, even if bound by professional secrecy.
- Article 8The article provides that anyone who contributes to the crime of human trafficking, and anyone who takes part in the crimes in Articles 2, 4 and 6, is punished with the perpetrator's penalty.
- Article 9The article punishes with imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or both, anyone who possesses, conceals or disposes of proceeds of the Law's crimes, conceals an accomplice, or helps conceal the crime's traces.
- Article 10The article provides that an attempt at any of the crimes in Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Law is punished with the penalty of the completed crime.
- Article 11The article allows the competent court, in all cases, to confiscate funds, belongings and tools used or prepared for use in the crime of human trafficking or obtained from it.
- Article 12The article exempts from penalty an offender who reports before execution begins, allows exemption for one who reports after the crime and enables arrest of the others before investigation, and allows a reduced penalty for reporting during the investigation.
- Article 13The article punishes a legal entity through which, for which or in whose name a trafficking crime is committed with its knowledge by a fine of up to SAR 10,000,000, and allows its dissolution or closure.
- Article 14The article provides that the penalties in the Anti-Human Trafficking Law do not prevent any more severe penalty provided for in other laws from being imposed.
- Article 15The article sets seven measures to protect a trafficking victim during investigation and trial, including informing them of their rights in a language they understand, medical referral, shelter, security protection, and assessing a foreigner's stay or work.
- Article 16The article gives the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the Law's crimes and to inspect the places where victims are sheltered, to make sure court judgments are carried out.
- Article 17The article provides that the Anti-Human Trafficking Law takes effect 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.