Article 17 of the Saudi Explosives and Fireworks Law
المادة 17 من نظام المتفجرات والمفرقعات · الفصل الثالث: العقوبات
The article punishes with up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, or either, anyone who possesses explosives, transports them knowing they are explosives, or buys, sells or uses them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز خمس سنوات، وبغرامة لا تزيد على مليون ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من حاز متفجرات، أو نقلها مع علمه أنها متفجرات، أو اشتراها، أو باعها، أو استعملها.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with forms of handling explosives that are less serious than smuggling or manufacturing, and punishes them with imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, or either of the two.
The punishable acts are:
- Possessing explosives.
- Transporting them knowing they are explosives.
- Buying them.
- Selling them.
- Using them.
Note that the wording expressly states the requirement of knowing they are explosives with the act of transporting. Someone who transports a shipment without knowing it contains explosives does not meet the requirement the text states for transporting. Whether knowledge is established on the facts is a matter for the courts.
This article carries the lowest of the penalties set for explosives offenses in these articles:
- Article 15: up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 5 million, or either, where the act is with intent to undermine the Kingdom's security.
- Article 16: up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 2.5 million, or either, for smuggling with intent to trade, or manufacturing.
- This article: up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, or either.
The basis of this penalty is the prohibition in Article 4, which bars possessing, selling, using or transporting explosives except with a permit from the Ministry of Interior. Anyone facing a charge of possessing or transporting explosives needs to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A truck driver is stopped on the road between Riyadh and Qassim carrying crates that turn out to be explosives, without a permit. Whether the penalty for transporting in this article applies depends on proof that he knew they were explosives, because the text requires knowledge for the act of transporting.
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 17 of the Saudi Explosives and Fireworks Law
What is the penalty for possessing explosives without a permit?
Imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to SAR 1 million, or either penalty.
Is someone who transports explosives without knowing it punished?
The text requires that the transporter knew they were explosives. Whether knowledge is established is for the courts to decide.
More articles on Penalties for Explosives Offenses
- Article 14
The article applies the Law's provisions to violators, subject to what the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and its implementing regulations provide.
مع مراعاة ما يقضي به نظام "قانون" الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، ولائحته التنفيذية؛ تطبق الأحكام الواردة في هذا النظام على مخالفي أحكامه.
- Article 15
The article punishes with up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 5 million, or either, anyone who commits explosives-related acts with intent to undermine the Kingdom's security, unless the circumstances call for a harsher penalty.
مالم تقتض ملابسات الجريمة عقوبة أشد، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز عشرين سنة وبغرامة لا تزيد على خمسة ملايين ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من ثبت قيامه - بقصد
- Article 16
The article punishes with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 2,500,000, or either, anyone who smuggles explosives into the Kingdom with intent to trade in them or who manufactures them.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز عشر سنوات، وبغرامة لا تزيد على مليونين وخمسمائة ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من هرب متفجرات إلى داخل المملكة بقصد الاتجار،
- Article 24
The article punishes anyone proven to have knowingly taken part in committing any violation of the Explosives and Fireworks Law with the penalty set for the violator himself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على المخالف، كل من ثبتت مشاركته في ارتكاب أي من مخالفات أحكام هذا النظام مع علمه بذلك.
- Article 25
The article provides for applying the Explosives and Fireworks Law's penalties and doubling them in case of repeat offense, unless another law provides a harsher penalty.
تطبق العقوبات الواردة في هذا النظام وتضاعف في حالة العود، ما لم ينص على عقوبة أشد في نظام آخر.
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.