Article 13 of the Saudi Anti-Smoking Law
المادة 13 من نظام مكافحة التدخين
The article punishes anyone who violates the ban on growing or manufacturing tobacco in Article 3 with a fine of SAR 20,000 and removal of the violation at their expense.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب كل مخالف لأحكام المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام بغرامة مالية مقدارها (20.000) عشرون ألف ريال مع إزالة المخالفة على حسابه.
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 is the penalty for Article 3, which prohibits growing or manufacturing tobacco and its derivatives in the Kingdom. The penalty has two elements:
- A fine of SAR 20,000. The text sets the fine as a fixed amount, not a maximum.
- Removal of the violation at the violator's expense, meaning the violator bears the costs of removing the violating crop or manufacturing facility.
The provision covers anyone who violates Article 3, whether by growing or by manufacturing. Tobacco derivatives are understood according to the definition in Article 2, which includes cigarettes, cigars, jurak, tombak, mu'assel and any product containing tobacco.
The article does not provide for doubling this fine in case of repeat offense. It differs from Article 14, which punishes anyone who smokes in violation of Article 7 with a fine of SAR 200; the violation of growing and manufacturing is more serious in effect because it concerns the production of tobacco, not its consumption.
Responsibility for catching violations, recording them and imposing fines lies with the bodies listed in Article 12, including government bodies and private-sector establishments. Anyone penalized would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
An area planted with tobacco was found on a farm in the Jazan region. Under this article its owner is punished with a fine of SAR 20,000, and the violating crop is removed at his expense.
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 13 of the Saudi Anti-Smoking Law
What is the penalty for growing tobacco in Saudi Arabia?
A fine of SAR 20,000 and removal of the violation at the violator's expense.
Does the penalty cover manufacturing tobacco?
Yes. The article punishes anyone who violates Article 3, which prohibits growing and manufacturing tobacco and its derivatives in the Kingdom.
Who bears the costs of removing the violation?
The violator bears them, as the article provides for removal of the violation at their expense.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Smoking Violations and Fines
- Article 12
The article makes government bodies, educational, health, sports, cultural, social and charitable institutions, and private-sector establishments responsible for catching and recording violations of the law and imposing fines.
تتولى الوزارات والمصالح الحكومية والمؤسسات والهيئات العامة وفروعها، والجهات العامة الأخرى في الدولة، والمؤسسات التعليمية والصحية والرياضية والثقافية والاجتماعية
- Article 14
The article punishes anyone who smokes in the places where Article 7 prohibits smoking with a fine of SAR 200.
يعاقب كل من يتعاطى التدخين مخالفاً أحكام المادة (السابعة) من هذا النظام بغرامة مالية مقدارها (200) مائتا ريال.
- Article 15
The article punishes any violation of the law for which no specific penalty is provided with a fine not exceeding SAR 5,000, doubled in case of repeat offense.
فيما لم يرد في شأنه نص خاص بالعقوبة، يعاقب كل من يرتكب أي مخالفة لأي حكم من أحكام هذا النظام بغرامة لا تتجاوز (5000) خمسة آلاف ريال، وتضاعف العقوبة في حالة العَ
- Article 16
The article allows anyone penalized under the Anti-Smoking Law to file a grievance before the competent authority within the prescribed statutory period.
يجوز لمن صدرت ضده عقوبة من العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، التظلم أمام الجهة المختصة، خلال المدة النظامية المقررة.
- Article 17
The article provides that the penalties in the Anti-Smoking Law do not prevent applying any more severe penalty set by another law.
لا تخل العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر .
- Article 18
The article allocates all fines collected under the Anti-Smoking Law to support awareness and encourage civil associations to combat smoking, through a bank account spent according to the Minister of Health's instructions.
تخصص جميع الغرامات المحصلة بموجب أحكام هذا النظام لدعم جهود التوعية وتشجيع الجمعيات الأهلية على مكافحة التدخين ونشرها على مستوى المملكة. وينشأ لهذا الغرض حساب ب
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.