Article 15 of the Saudi Money Counterfeiting Law

This is a closing Article that specifies the date the Law takes effect.

The rule: this Law takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

What does that mean?

• The Law does not apply before its publication, and no period is required after publication for it to be in force; it is effective from the day of publication itself.
• Acts that occur after this date are subject to its provisions.

This kind of article is usual at the close of laws, since it ties the start of the binding effect to a clear event that anyone can verify, namely official publication.

The practical meaning is that publication in the Official Gazette is what makes the Law known and binding. The Article does not state the publication date itself, so one refers to the Law's official particulars to learn it.

This Article does not deal with the entry into force of any later amendments to the Law's articles.

This Article is connected to Article 14, which specifies the bodies charged with implementing the Law.

To know which text applies to an act that occurred on a particular date, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.