Article 22 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 22 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل الرابع: الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية
The article allows the General Department of Financial Intelligence to exchange information with counterpart foreign bodies and enter into arrangements with them, after obtaining an undertaking to use the information only for the purpose it was requested.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع أي جهة أجنبية نظيرة أو تطلب منها أي معلومة متصلة بعملها، ولها أن تُبرم -وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية- مع أي جهة أجنبية نظيرة اتفاقاً أو ترتيباً لتسهيل تبادل المعلومات معها.
2- على الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية عند تقديم معلومات وفقاً لهذه المادة إلى جهة أجنبية نظيرة، أن تحصل منها على إقرار أو تعهّد ملائم بأنّ تلك المعلومات لن تُستخدم إلا للغرض الذي طُلبت من أجله، ما لم تحصل هذه الجهة على موافقة الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية لاستخدام المعلومات لغرض آخر.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article regulates the international cooperation of the General Department of Financial Intelligence with its counterparts in other countries, and has two paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: the power to exchange. The Department may:
- Exchange with any counterpart foreign body any information connected to its work, or request it from it.
- Enter into an agreement or arrangement with any counterpart foreign body to facilitate the exchange of information, provided this is done in accordance with the legal procedures.
Paragraph 2: ensuring limits on use. When the Department provides information to a counterpart foreign body, it must obtain from it a suitable acknowledgment or undertaking that the information will not be used except for the purpose for which it was requested. It may not be used for another purpose unless the foreign body obtains the approval of the General Department of Financial Intelligence.
This provision corresponds to Article 21, which regulates the exchange of information with the competent authorities inside the Kingdom. The difference is that external exchange is restricted by the undertaking mentioned, to protect the information and prevent its use for anything other than what it was provided for.
Note that paragraph 1 is a permissive power ("the Department may..."), while obtaining the undertaking in paragraph 2 is a mandatory obligation ("the Department must...") whenever information is provided to a foreign body.
The article does not name the counterpart foreign bodies. Anyone facing a case with an international dimension would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or international cases.
Practical example
A financial intelligence unit in a foreign country asked the General Department of Financial Intelligence for information about transfers connected to a fraud case it is handling. Before providing the information, the Saudi Department must obtain from that unit an undertaking that it will use it only for that case, unless the Department later approves its use for another purpose.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 22 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
Does Saudi Arabia exchange money laundering information with other countries?
Yes. The General Department of Financial Intelligence may exchange with any counterpart foreign body any information connected to its work, or request it from it.
May the foreign body use the information for any purpose?
No. An undertaking must be obtained from it that the information will not be used except for the purpose for which it was requested, unless the Department approves its use for another purpose.
More articles on General Directorate of Financial Intelligence
- Article 15Amended by M/223
The article requires financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions, including legal and accounting service providers, to report to the General Department of Financial Intelligence immediately when money laundering is suspected.
على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة - بما في ذلك الأشخاص الذي يقدمون خدمات قانونية أو محاسبية - عند اشتباههم أو إذا توافرت لديهم أسباب معق
- Article 17
The article sets the General Department of Financial Intelligence as reporting to the Head of State Security, with independence, and as a central body that receives reports, analyzes them and refers results to the competent authorities.
ترتبط الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية برئيس أمن الدولة، وتتمتع باستقلالية عملية كافية, وتعمل -بوصفها جهازاً مركزياً وطنياً- على تلقي البلاغات والمعلومات والتقار
- Article 19
The article lets the General Department of Financial Intelligence refer information and its analysis results to the competent authorities where there are grounds for suspicion, and gives it full authority to exercise its competences independently.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية من تلقاء نفسها أو عند الطلب إحالة المعلومات ونتائج تحليلها إلى السلطات المختصة ذات الصلة عندما تكون هناك أسباب للاشتباه بأنّ معا
- Article 20
The article binds every employee of the General Department of Financial Intelligence and every person answerable to it to keep confidential the information they see in their work, even after their responsibilities end.
على كل موظف يعمل في الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية، أو أي شخص مسؤول أمامها، الالتزام بسرية المعلومات التي يطلع عليها ضمن نطاق أداء واجباته حتى بعد انتهاء مسؤول
- Article 21
The article allows the General Department of Financial Intelligence to exchange the information it holds with the competent authorities, and to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding with them to facilitate exchange and cooperation.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع السلطات المختصّة المعلومات التي تحتفظ بها، ولها كذلك الدخول في اتفاقيات أو مذكرات تفاهم مع السلطات المختصة لتسهيل ع
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.