Article 56 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law

المادة 56 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية

The article bars a Saudi convicted of a drug offense from traveling for a period equal to his prison term, of at least two years, after serving it, and deports a non-Saudi after his sentence, with no return except as Hajj and Umrah instructions allow.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

1- يمنع السعودي -المحكوم عليه بارتكاب أحد الأفعال الجرمية المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، من السفر إلى خارج المملكة بعد انتهاء تنفيذ عقوبة السجن مدة مماثلة لمدة عقوبة السجن المحكوم بها عليه، على أن لا تقل مدة المنع عن سنتين. ولوزير الداخلية الإذن بالسفر للضرورة أثناء مدة المنع.

2- يبعد غير السعودي عن المملكة بعد تنفيذ العقوبة المحكوم بها عليه، ولا يسمح له بالعودة إليها، فيما عدا ما تسمح به تعليمات الحج والعمرة.

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 56 explained in plain English

This article sets two consequences for a person convicted of one of the criminal acts in Article 3, which differ according to nationality. Article 3 covers smuggling; bringing in, exporting, producing, possessing, selling, using and the like outside the licensed cases; cultivating Table (4) plants; making production equipment; laundering funds; and participating in or attempting any of these.

Paragraph 1: a Saudi, a travel ban

He is barred from traveling outside the Kingdom after the prison sentence has been carried out.
The ban lasts a period equal to the prison sentence imposed on him.
The ban may not be shorter than two years.
The Minister of Interior may permit travel out of necessity during the ban.

So a person sentenced to 3 years of prison, for example, is barred from traveling for 3 years after his release, and a person sentenced to less than two years is barred for two years.

Paragraph 2: a non-Saudi, deportation

He is deported from the Kingdom after the sentence imposed on him is carried out.
He is not permitted to return, except as the Hajj and Umrah instructions allow.

The ban and deportation here follow from the conviction by the article's own text; they do not replace the principal penalty but come after it is carried out.

This article comes after Article 55, which revokes the license to manage an establishment licensed to trade in these substances if its manager commits an Article 3 act, and before Article 57, which revokes the professional practice license of anyone convicted of an Article 3 offense.

Anyone who needs to travel out of necessity during the ban, or has a question about his status, can consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.

Practical example

A citizen in Al-Qassim is sentenced to a year and a half in prison in a drug possession case. After his prison sentence is carried out, he is barred from traveling outside the Kingdom for two years, because the ban may not be shorter than two years. If he needs to travel for emergency treatment during this period, the Minister of Interior may permit him to travel out of necessity.

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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