Article 37 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 37 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب الخامس: الحقوق والواجبات
The Article establishes the sanctity of homes: they may not be entered without the owner's permission or searched except in the cases set out by the law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمساكن حرمتها، ولا يجوز دخولها بغير إذن صاحبها، ولا تفتيشها، إلا في الحالات التي يبينها النظام.
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 37 explained in plain English
This Article protects the home as the place of a person's privacy, and it contains two provisions:
- The sanctity of homes: homes have their sanctity, meaning they are protected from intrusion.
- Entry and search: a home may not be entered without its owner's permission, or searched, except in the cases set out by the law.
The wording makes protecting the home the rule, and confines the exception to the cases set out by the law. A mere wish to enter or search is not enough; the case must be one that the law specifies. The Article itself does not state these cases, the competent body, or the required procedures, but leaves them to the law.
The Article comes within a series of personal guarantees, including Article 36, which prohibits restricting anyone's actions or detaining or imprisoning anyone except under the provisions of the law, and Article 38, which provides that punishment is personal and that there is no crime or punishment except on the basis of a provision of Sharia or of the law.
Anyone whose home has been entered or searched and who believes that this was not in a case set out by the law would be well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Ahmed returns to his home in Riyadh, and his neighbor tells him that some people asked to enter in his absence. Under Article 37, his home may not be entered without his permission, or searched, except in the cases set out by the law, and the Article does not detail those cases.
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 37 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Can my home be entered without my permission?
Article 37 provides that homes may not be entered without their owner's permission except in the cases set out by the law.
When can a home be searched?
A home may not be searched except in the cases set out by the law, and the Article does not itself state these cases.
What does the sanctity of the home mean?
It means that the home has special protection: it may not be entered without its owner's permission or searched except in the cases specified by the law.
More articles on Personal Freedoms and Guarantees
- Article 36
The Article obliges the State to provide security for citizens and residents, and prohibits restricting anyone's actions, or detaining or imprisoning anyone, except under the provisions of the law.
توفر الدولة الأمن لجميع مواطنيها والمقيمين على إقليمها، ولا يجوز تقييد تصرفات أحد، أو توقيفه، أو حبسه، إلا بموجب أحكام النظام .
- Article 38
The Article provides that punishment is personal, that there is no crime or punishment except under a provision of Sharia or of the law, and that there is no punishment except for acts committed after the legal provision took effect.
العقوبة شخصية، ولا جريمة ولا عقوبة إلا بناء على نص شرعي، أو نص نظامي، ولا عقاب إلا على الأعمال اللاحقة للعمل بالنص النظامي.
- Article 39
The Article requires the media, publishing and all means of expression to use good words and comply with the State's laws, and prohibits what leads to sedition or division or harms State security or human dignity.
تلتزم وسائل الإعلام والنشر وجميع وسائل التعبير بالكلمة الطيبة، وبأنظمة الدولة، وتسهم في تثقيف الأمة ودعم وحدتها، ويحظر ما يؤدي إلى الفتنة، أو الانقسام، أو يمس ب
- Article 40
The Article protects correspondence, calls and means of communication: they may not be confiscated, delayed, viewed or listened to except in the cases set out by the law.
المراسلات البرقية، والبريدية، والمخابرات الهاتفية، وغيرها من وسائل الاتصال، مصونة، ولا يجوز مصادرتها، أو تأخيرها، أو الاطلاع عليها، أو الاستماع إليها، إلا في ال
- Article 41
The Article requires residents of the Kingdom to comply with its laws and to observe the values of Saudi society and respect its traditions and feelings.
يلتزم المقيمون في المملكة العربية السعودية بأنظمتها، وعليهم مراعاة قيم المجتمع السعودي واحترام تقاليده ومشاعره.
- Article 43
The Article provides that the King's majlis and the Crown Prince's majlis are open to every citizen and to anyone with a complaint or grievance, and that every individual has the right to address the public authorities.
مجلس الملك ومجلس ولي العهد، مفتوحان لكل مواطن، ولكل من له شكوى أو مظلمة، ومن حق كل فرد مخاطبة السلطات العامة فيما يعرض له من الشئون.
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.