Article 13 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 13 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article allows the Minister to permit hunting weapons and personal protection weapons to transit Saudi territory, in line with international laws and customs, the laws of the destination country, and the Regulations' conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للوزير السماح بعبور أسلحة الصيد وأسلحة الحماية الشخصية للأراضي السعودية، بما يتفق مع الأنظمة والأعراف الدولية المعمول بها وأنظمة الدولة المتجه إليها، وفي ضوء الإجراءات والشروط 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 13 explained in plain English
This article deals with transit, meaning the passage of weapons through Saudi territory. It allows the Minister, who under Article 1 is the Minister of Interior, to permit the transit of two types of weapons:
- Hunting weapons, which under Article 1 are smooth-bore firearms originally designed for hunting.
- Personal protection weapons, which are not defined among the definitions in Article 1.
The text requires that permission for transit be:
- In line with the international laws and customs in force.
- In line with the laws of the destination country.
- In light of the procedures and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
Permitting transit is a discretionary matter for the Minister, given the wording "the Minister may," and is not an automatic right of the traveler. The article does not state the details of the procedures; it refers them to the Regulations.
The article is linked to Article 14, which requires anyone licensed to import personal firearms or hunting weapons and their accessories and ammunition, and anyone licensed to buy and sell them, to take all safety measures for transporting and storing them. Those obligations concern holders of those licenses, not a traveler in transit.
Anyone planning to cross the Kingdom with a hunting weapon or a personal protection weapon may consult a lawyer who specializes in weapons regulations before traveling.
Practical example
A traveler is driving through the Kingdom toward a neighboring country with a hunting rifle. Under this article, the Minister of Interior may permit its transit in line with the international laws and customs in force and the laws of the country he is headed to, and according to the procedures and conditions set 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 13 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
May a hunting weapon be carried through Saudi Arabia in transit?
The Minister may permit the transit of hunting weapons and personal protection weapons through Saudi territory, as provided in the article and the Regulations.
What are the conditions for the transit of weapons?
The transit must be in line with the international laws and customs in force and the laws of the destination country, and in accordance with the procedures and conditions set by the Regulations.
Is transit with a weapon an automatic right?
No. The article makes it a matter the Minister may permit.
More articles on Importing and Selling Weapons
- Article 3
The article limits the import, sale, and purchase of personal firearms, air rifles, and hunting weapons, with their accessories and ammunition, to licensed Saudis in accordance with the Regulations.
يقصر استيراد الأسلحة النارية الفردية والبنادق الهوائية و أسلحة الصيد المعرفة في هذا النظام ولوازمها وقطع غيارها وذخائرها، وبيعها وشراؤها على السعوديين المرخص له
- Article 4
The article prohibits anyone other than the competent government bodies from manufacturing and trading in military weapons or manufacturing personal firearms, and bars importing, selling, carrying, or bringing in weapons except with the Minister's license or permission.
يحظر على غير الجهات الحكومية المختصة ما يأتي: أ - صنع الأسلحة الحربية وذخائرها ومستلزماتها أو قطع غيارها، و استيرادها، أو حيازتها، أو تداولها، أو اقتناؤها، أو إ
- Article 5
The article requires the Minister's license to import antique weapons and trade in them, allows bringing them in or carrying them along for collecting, and refers the conditions and procedures to the Regulations.
أ - لا يجوز استيراد الأسلحة الأثرية وتداولها بقصد الاتجار إلا بترخيص من الوزير . ب - يجوز جلب الأسلحة الأثرية أو اصطحابها بقصد الاقتناء. ج - تحدد اللائحة شروط و
- Article 9
The article allows the Minister to license the import, sale, purchase, carrying, acquisition, and repair of personal firearms, hunting weapons, training weapons, and air rifles, with their accessories, in accordance with the Regulations' conditions.
للوزير أن يرخص باستيراد الأسلحة النارية الفردية و أسلحة الصيد و أسلحة التمرين والبنادق الهوائية وقطع غيارها ولوازمها وذخائرها، وكذلك بيعها أو شراؤها أو حملها أو
- Article 14
The article requires those licensed to import personal firearms or hunting weapons, or to buy and sell them, to take all safety measures in transporting and storing them.
يجب على المرخص له باستيراد الأسلحة النارية الفردية أو أسلحة الصيد ومستلزماتها وقطع غيارها وذخائرها، وكذلك المرخص له بشرائها وبيعها - اتخاذ جميع وسائل السلامة لن
- Article 15
The article requires those licensed to import weapons of all types, or to buy and sell them, to keep special records of them according to the forms and procedures set by the Regulations.
يجب على المرخص له باستيراد الأسلحة بجميع أنواعها ومستلزماتها وذخائرها وقطع غيارها، وكذلك المرخص له بشرائها وبيعها، أن ينظم لها سجلات خاصة وفقا للنماذج والإجراءا
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.