Article 79 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 79 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to SAR 10,000, or either, anyone who gives incorrect information under the Law or violates Article 73.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالحبس مدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر وبغرامة لا تزيد على عشرة آلاف ريال أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين:
أ - كل من أدلى ببيان غير صحيح من البيانات التي يوجبها تنفيذ هذا النظام.
ب - كل من خالف حكم المادة (73) من هذا 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 79 explained in plain English
This article sets the penalty for two of the most serious violations of the Civil Status Law.
The penalty:
- Imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.
- And a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000.
- Or either of these two penalties.
That is, the penalty may be imprisonment and a fine together, or only one of them, within the stated maximum.
The violations covered:
- Giving incorrect information in any of the statements required for the implementation of this Law.
- Violating the provision of Article 73, the article that prohibits any citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, from holding more than one personal ID card or more than one family record book, or from using a card or family record book that is not his own.
This penalty applies within the framework of Article 78, which provides that violators of the Law are punished with the penalties set out in the articles that follow it, without prejudice to any harsher penalty provided for by other laws. Article 80 sets a separate penalty for violating the provisions of Articles (32, 39, 45, 52, 70, 71), namely a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000.
Because this penalty may include imprisonment, anyone facing an accusation of one of these violations is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A man gave his family record book to a relative to use in an official transaction. The relative's use of a family record book that is not his own is a violation of Article 73, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding six months and a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000, or either.
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 79 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
What is the penalty for giving false information to the civil status authorities?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000, or either of these two penalties.
What is the penalty for using another person's ID?
Using a card that does not belong to the person violates Article 73, and the penalty is imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to SAR 10,000, or either.
Can imprisonment and a fine be imposed together?
Yes. The text allows imprisonment and a fine together, or only one of them.
Can a harsher penalty than this be applied?
Yes. Article 78 provides that this is without prejudice to any harsher penalties provided for by other laws.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Civil Status Violations and Penalties
- Article 76Amended (1427 AH)
The Article requires reporting the loss or damage of the national ID or family record book within 15 days, sets graded fines by number of times and delay, and exempts losses from fire, accidents, theft and disasters officially established.
إذا فقدت أو تلفت البطاقة الشخصية (بطاقة الهوية الوطنية) أو دفتر العائلة (سجل الأسرة)، فيجب اتخاذ الآتي: 1 - على صاحب المصلحة تبليغ إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية خل
- Article 78
The article punishes violators of the Civil Status Law with the penalties set out in the following articles, without prejudice to any harsher penalty under other laws.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى من عقوبات أشد يعاقب مخالفو أحكام هذا النظام بالعقوبات المحددة في المواد التالية.
- Article 80
The article sets a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000 for anyone who violates the provisions of Articles 32, 39, 45, 52, 70 and 71 of the Civil Status Law.
يعاقب على مخالفة أحكام المواد (32، 39، 45، 52، 70، 71) بغرامة لا تزيد على عشرة آلاف ريال.
- Article 81
The article sets a fine not exceeding SAR 5,000 for violating the remaining provisions of the Civil Status Law, its Implementing Regulations and the decisions implementing them.
يعاقب على مخالفة الأحكام الأخرى في هذا النظام وأحكام اللائحة التنفيذية والقرارات المنفذة لها بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسة آلاف ريال.
- Article 82Amended (1422 AH)
The article provides for local committees in civil status departments and offices and sub-committees in the regions, formed by decision of the Minister of Interior, and states their members from the Interior, Justice and Health.
أ - تشكل بقرار من وزير الداخلية وبقدر الحاجة لجان محلية في كل إدارة أو مكتب للأحوال المدنية، وتتكون كل لجنة من: 1 - مندوب من إدارة الأحوال المدنية يعينه وزير ال
- Article 83Amended (1422 AH)
The article sets the jurisdiction of the local committees (Articles 20 and 26) and of the sub-committees: correcting entries, grievances against refusal of registration, investigating violators and referred matters.
تقوم اللجان المحلية بتطبيق الاختصاص المحدد لها في المادتين (20 ،26) من هذا النظام، وتختص اللجان الفرعية بالفصل في الموضوعات التالية: أ - طلبات تصحيح أو تعديل قي
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.