Article 1 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 1 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الأول: التعريفات
This article of the Regulations defines the terms used in them, such as the Law, the Regulations, the Council, the Ministry, the Authority and serious crimes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالمصطلحات والعبارات الآتية - أينما وردت في هذه اللائحة - المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك :
النظام : نظام الإجراءات الجزائية.
اللائحة : اللائحة التنفيذية للنظام.
المجلس : المجلس الأعلى للقضاء.
الوزارة : وزارة العدل.
الهيئة : هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام.
الجرائم الكبيرة : الجرائم الموجبة للتوقيف بموجب المادة (الثانية عشرة بعد المائة) من 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 1 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law is the definitions article. Its benefit is that when a reader finds a short term in any article of the Regulations, he knows what is meant without confusion, unless the context of the article indicates another meaning.
The terms it defines are:
- The Law: the Criminal Procedure Law, so every reference to "Article such-and-such of the Law" means an article in the Criminal Procedure Law itself.
- The Regulations: the Implementing Regulations of this Law, that is, this text.
- The Council: the Supreme Judicial Council.
- The Ministry: the Ministry of Justice.
- The Authority: the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, the body referred to repeatedly in the articles on investigation and bringing the case, including Article 2, which requires it to notify the court of the names of the authorized public prosecutors.
- Serious crimes: crimes that require detention under Article 112 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The Regulations do not list these crimes themselves, but refer to that article of the Law to identify them.
The term "serious crimes" recurs in many articles of the Regulations, and important provisions depend on it, so knowing whether a crime is of this kind depends on what Article 112 of the Law provides. Anyone who needs to know whether a particular incident counts as a serious crime is best advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributorDr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is meant by the Authority in the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law?
The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, under the definition in this article.
What are serious crimes in the Criminal Procedure Law?
This article defines them as crimes that require detention under Article 112 of the Law, and the Regulations do not give a list of them here.
When the Regulations mention "the Law", what do they mean?
They mean the Criminal Procedure Law, unless the context of the article requires otherwise.
More articles on Definitions and General Provisions
- Article 172
The article explains that the orders referred to in Article 14 of the Criminal Procedure Law are orders issued by judicial bodies under their various names and by the Authority.
الأوامر الواردة في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام هي الأوامر الصادرة من الجهات القضائية بأسمائها المختلفة ومن الهيئة.
- Article 173
The phrase "serious crimes", wherever it appears in the Criminal Procedure Law, means the "serious crimes requiring detention" referred to in Article 112 of the Law.
يقصد بعبارة "الجرائم الكبيرة" أينما وردت في النظام؛ "الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوقيف" الواردة في المادة (الثانية عشرة بعد المائة) من النظام .
- Article 174
The article allows a case received by mistake to be referred to the proper court or body, governs competent bodies' access to court papers, and requires the court to take the necessary steps when a general pardon is issued.
1- إذا وردت قضية إلى محكمة عن طريق الخطأ فلا يحول ما ورد في المادة (الخامسة) من النظام دون إحالتها إلى المحكمة أو الجهة المعنية. 2 - إذا طلبت جهة مختصة الاطلاع
- Article 175
If a non-Saudi is detained on suspicion of a serious crime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is notified so it can consider informing his country's representation.
إذا أوقف شخص غير سعودي لاتهامه بارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم الكبيرة؛ فتبلغ وزارة الخارجية للنظر في إحاطة ممثلية بلاده.
- Article 176
In searching the premises of foreign embassies and international bodies and organizations with immunity, the relevant laws and rules, international customs, and international agreements must be observed.
يُراعى في تفتيش دور السفارات الأجنبيـة والهيئات والمنظمات الدولية ذات الحصانة القنصلية والدبلوماسية ما تقضي به الأنظمة والقواعد الصادرة في هذا الشأن، والأعراف و
- Article 178
Notification is valid when the person is notified through his address approved by the competent authority or its legal equivalent, unless there is a specific provision.
يكون إجراء التبليغ صحيحاً متى بُلغ الشخص المطلوب عن طريق عنوانه المعتمد من الجهة المختصة أو ما يقوم مقامه نظاماً، وذلك فيما لم يرد به نص خاص.
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.

