Article 21 of the Saudi Explosives and Fireworks Law
المادة 21 من نظام المتفجرات والمفرقعات · الفصل الثالث: العقوبات
The article punishes with up to 6 months in prison and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either, anyone who smuggles fireworks into the Kingdom, makes them or trades in them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر، وبغرامة لا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من هرب مفرقعات إلى داخل المملكة، أو صنعها، أو اتجر فيها.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article moves from the penalties for explosives to the penalties for fireworks, which under Article 1 are chemical compounds or mixtures prepared to produce a loud bang accompanied by halos or light or smoke effects, including fireworks prepared for festivals and occasions.
Three acts are punished:
- Smuggling fireworks into the Kingdom.
- Making them.
- Trading in them.
The penalty is imprisonment of up to 6 months and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either of the two.
Note that this penalty is much lighter than the explosives penalties in Articles 15 to 17, because fireworks are less dangerous than explosives with destructive force. It remains a criminal penalty that can reach imprisonment.
The penalty rests on the prohibition in Article 4, which bars making, importing, selling or trading in fireworks except with a permit from the Ministry of Interior. The article punishes the three acts it names, and mentions no others.
Permit holders for fireworks who breach the conditions of their permits or the transport or storage conditions face a separate penalty in Article 22: a fine of up to SAR 40,000. Under Article 13, the Board of Grievances has jurisdiction to order confiscation of the fireworks involved in the violation and of the means of transport used in smuggling.
Anyone facing a charge of selling or smuggling fireworks may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A young man in Al-Ahsa is caught selling fireworks through his social media account without a permit. Trading in fireworks is one of the acts this article punishes with up to 6 months in prison and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, 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 21 of the Saudi Explosives and Fireworks Law
What is the penalty for selling fireworks without a permit?
Trading in fireworks is punished with imprisonment of up to 6 months and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either.
What is the penalty for smuggling fireworks into Saudi Arabia?
The same penalty: up to 6 months in prison and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either. The Board of Grievances may also order confiscation of the fireworks and the means of transport.
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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.