Article 11 of the Saudi Child Protection Law

المادة 11 من نظام حماية الطفل · الفصل الثالث: المحظورات المتصلة بحماية الطفل

The article prohibits selling tobacco and harmful substances to a child or using a child to buy, sell or advertise them, selling toys and sweets shaped like cigarettes, and smoking in a child's presence.

Official text (Arabic)

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

1- يحظر أن يباع للطفل التبغ ومشتقاته وغيره من المواد التي تضر بسلامته، وكذلك يحظر أن يستخدم في شرائها أو أماكن إنتاجها أو بيعها أو الدعاية لها.

2 - يحظر استيراد وبيع ألعاب الطفل أو الحلوى المصنعة على هيئة سجائر أو أي أداة من أدوات التدخين.

3 - يحظر عرض المشاهد التي تشجع الطفل على التدخين، ويحظر كذلك التدخين أثناء وجوده.

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 11 explained in plain English

This article protects the child from smoking and harmful substances in three paragraphs:

Paragraph 1 – Selling to the child and using the child: it is prohibited to sell tobacco, its derivatives and other substances that harm the child's safety to a child. It is also prohibited to use a child to buy these substances, in places where they are produced or sold, or to advertise them.

Paragraph 2 – Toys and sweets: it is prohibited to import and sell children's toys or sweets made in the shape of cigarettes or any smoking tool, because they make the image of smoking familiar to the child.

Paragraph 3 – Scenes and smoking in the child's presence: it is prohibited to show scenes that encourage the child to smoke, and also to smoke while the child is present.

The child is anyone who has not exceeded eighteen under Article 1, so the prohibition on sale covers everyone below that limit. Note that the first paragraph is not limited to tobacco but includes "other substances that harm the child's safety".

These provisions are addressed to several parties: shop owners and sellers, importers, those who show content, and also parents and adults who smoke in the presence of children. The article does not state a particular penalty or supervisory authority.

Practical example

A grocery store in Khobar asks a 12-year-old boy to hand out promotional leaflets for a type of e-cigarette in return for a small sum. Using a child to advertise smoking products is prohibited by the first paragraph of this article.

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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