Article 2 of the Saudi Border Security Law
المادة 2 من نظام أمن الحدود
The article makes the Border Guard, among the internal security forces, the body competent to guard the land borders, territorial waters and seaports under rules issued by regulation of the Minister of Interior.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
حرس الحدود المختص من بين قوات الأمن الداخلي لحراسة الحدود البرية والمياه الإقليمية والموانئ البحرية وفق قواعد تصدر بها لائحة من وزير الداخلية.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article specifies the body responsible for applying the concept of border security defined in Article 1, namely tightening control over the Kingdom's land borders and territorial waters.
The article provides that the Border Guard is the body competent, among the internal security forces, to guard three zones:
- The land borders.
- The territorial waters.
- The seaports.
The article does not detail how this guarding is carried out, but refers to rules issued by regulation of the Minister of Interior. The details of the work and procedures are therefore to be learned from that regulation, not from the text of the article.
Development of the text: the record of amendments shows that the name was "Border Force" and was changed to "Border Guard" by Royal Decree No. (M/9) dated 16/7/1414 AH wherever it appears in the Law or in other laws and decisions, and the text of the article was then amended by Royal Decree No. (M/19) dated 3/3/1425 AH to take its present form.
The article relates to Article 3, which binds everyone passing through border areas and territorial waters to the rules issued by regulation of the Minister of Interior, so the Border Guard exercises its competence in the zone in which those passing through are bound by those rules.
Anyone who has faced a measure by the Border Guard and wants to know their legal position can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A fisherman from Qatif working with his boat near the coast asks which body monitors the movement of boats in the territorial waters. Under this article, the Border Guard is the body competent to guard the territorial waters and seaports, and it works under rules issued by regulation of the Minister of Interior.
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 2 of the Saudi Border Security Law
Which body is competent to guard the borders in Saudi Arabia?
The Border Guard, which is among the internal security forces, is competent to guard the land borders, territorial waters and seaports.
Who sets the Border Guard's working rules?
These rules are issued by regulation of the Minister of Interior, according to the text of the article.
Was the Border Guard previously called something different?
Yes. The name was "Border Force" and was changed to "Border Guard" by Royal Decree No. (M/9) dated 16/7/1414 AH.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/26 — 24/6/1394 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدل مسمى (سلاح الحدود) إلى (حرس الحدود) وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م / 9) وتاريخ 16 / 7 / 1414 هـ أينما ورد فى نظام أمن الحدود الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم ( م / 26) وتاريخ 24 / 6 / 1394 هـ ، أو فى غيره من الأنظمة والقرارات .
Royal Decree No. M/19 — 3/3/1425 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدلت هذه المادة بالمرسوم الملكي رقم ( م / 19) وتاريخ 3 / 3 / 1425 هـ ، ليصبح نصها :
"حرس الحدود المختص من بين قوات الأمن الداخلي لحراسة الحدود البرية والمياه الإقليمية والموانئ البحرية وفق قواعد تصدر بها لائحة من وزير الداخلية".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
سلاح الحدود هو المختص من بين قوات الأمن الداخلي بحراسة الحدود البرية والمياه الإقليمية وفق القواعد التي تصدر بها لائحة من وزير الداخلية
Articles this article refers to
- Article 1
The article defines border security as tightening control over the Kingdom's land borders and territorial waters, so that entry or exit is only in accordance with the regulations and through places the Government designates.
يقصد بأمن الحدود إحكام الرقابة على حدود المملكة البرية ومياهها الإقليمية بمنع الدخول إليها أو الخروج منها إلا وفق الأنظمة المعمول بها وعبر الطرق والمسالك والموا
- Article 3
Article 3 requires everyone passing through border areas and territorial waters to follow the rules issued by a regulation of the Minister of Interior, without prejudice to other applicable laws.
مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام النظم المعمول بها يتعين أن يلتزم الكافة لدى مرورهم بمناطق الحدود والمياه الإقليمية بالقواعد التي تصدر بها لائحة من وزير الداخلية .
More articles on Border Guard Jurisdiction and Powers
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.