Article 4 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
المادة 4 من نظام الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة
The article sets the conditions for licensing guard establishments and companies: full Saudi ownership, age 25, good conduct, sufficient capital and means, and a bank guarantee.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
أ - يشترط للمؤسسات الفردية والشركات التي يرخص لها لممارسة الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة الآتي:
1 - أن تكون المؤسسة الفردية مملوكة بالكامل لسعودي، وأن تكون الشركة مملوكة بالكامل لسعوديين.
2 - ألا يقل عمر طالب الترخيص عن خمس وعشرين سنة.
3 - ألا يكون قد صدر عليه حكم بحد شرعي أو بالسجن في جريمة مخلة بالشرف والأمانة، ما لم يكن قد رد إليه اعتباره.
4 - ألا يكون مفصولا من الخدمة المدنية أو العسكرية لأسباب تأديبية، ما لم يكن قد مضى على ذلك ثلاث سنوات فأكثر.
5 - أن يتوافر لديه رأس المال الكافي والوسائل اللازمة التي تمكنه من تأمين الحراس الأمنيين وتجهيزهم بمتطلبات الحراسة وأدواتها وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
6 - أن تقدم المؤسسة أو الشركة الضمان البنكي اللازم وفقا للتصنيف والضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article sets out the conditions that must be met by the sole proprietorships and companies licensed to carry on private civil security guard service. There are six:
- Full Saudi ownership: a sole proprietorship wholly owned by a Saudi, or a company wholly owned by Saudis.
- Age: the license applicant must be at least 25 years old.
- Criminal record: he must not have been sentenced to a Sharia hudud penalty or to imprisonment for a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, unless his rehabilitation has been granted.
- Employment record: he must not have been dismissed from civil or military service for disciplinary reasons, unless 3 years or more have passed since then.
- Financial and operational capacity: sufficient capital and the means needed to provide guards and equip them with the requirements and tools of guard work, as specified by the Regulations.
- Bank guarantee: providing the necessary bank guarantee in accordance with the classification and controls specified by the Regulations.
Note that conditions 3 and 4 are not absolute bars: rehabilitation removes the first bar, and the passage of 3 years since a disciplinary dismissal removes the second. The amount of capital and of the bank guarantee is not set by the Law, which refers them to the Regulations.
Paragraphs (b) and (c) of this article were deleted by Royal Decree No. M/71 dated 1/6/1444 AH, so its text is now limited to paragraph (a). Article 4 bis regulates the authority competent to issue the license and its fees.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters and security licensing laws.
Practical example
A 30-year-old Saudi wants to establish a security guard company in Dammam, and he was dismissed from a government job for disciplinary reasons 4 years ago. The passage of more than 3 years since the dismissal removes that bar, but he must still meet the other conditions, including providing the necessary capital and means and submitting the bank guarantee as specified by the Regulations.
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 4 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
What are the conditions for licensing a security guard company?
Full Saudi ownership; the applicant must be at least 25 years old; not sentenced to a hudud penalty or to imprisonment for a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty unless rehabilitated; not dismissed for disciplinary reasons unless 3 years have passed; sufficient capital and means; and a bank guarantee.
Does a disciplinary dismissal permanently bar a guard license?
No. The bar is removed once 3 years or more have passed since the dismissal.
How much is the bank guarantee for a guard company?
The Law does not specify it. It is set in accordance with the classification and controls specified by the Regulations.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/71 — 1/6/1444 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- حذف الفقرتين (ب) و (ج) من هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/71) وتاريخ 1444/6/1هـ.
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
أ - يشترط للمؤسسات الفردية والشركات التي يرخص لها لممارسة الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة الآتي:
1 - أن تكون المؤسسة الفردية مملوكة بالكامل لسعودي، وأن تكون الشركة مملوكة بالكامل لسعوديين.
2 - ألا يقل عمر طالب الترخيص عن خمس وعشرين سنة.
3 - ألا يكون قد صدر عليه حكم بحد شرعي أو بالسجن في جريمة مخلة بالشرف والأمانة، ما لم يكن قد رد إليه اعتباره.
4 - ألا يكون مفصولا من الخدمة المدنية أو العسكرية لأسباب تأديبية، ما لم يكن قد مضى على ذلك ثلاث سنوات فأكثر.
5 - أن يتوافر لديه رأس المال الكافي والوسائل اللازمة التي تمكنه من تأمين الحراس الأمنيين وتجهيزهم بمتطلبات الحراسة وأدواتها وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
6 - أن تقدم المؤسسة أو الشركة الضمان البنكي اللازم وفقا للتصنيف والضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة.
ب - يصدر الترخيص من وزير الداخلية أو ممن ينيبه، وتحدد مدة الترخيص بخمس سنوات، ويجوز تجديده لمدة أو مدد مماثلة.
ج - يتم تحصيل رسم قدره مائة ريال عن كل حارس أمني متعاقد معه، عند إصدار الترخيص وعند تجديده.
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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.