Article 15 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 15 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على المرخص له باستيراد الأسلحة بجميع أنواعها ومستلزماتها وذخائرها وقطع غيارها، وكذلك المرخص له بشرائها وبيعها، أن ينظم لها سجلات خاصة وفقا للنماذج والإجراءات 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 15 explained in plain English
This article imposes a regulatory obligation on those who deal in weapons commercially: keeping special records. The obligation falls on:
- Anyone licensed to import weapons of all types and their accessories, ammunition, and spare parts.
- Anyone licensed to buy and sell them.
Note that the article speaks of "weapons of all types," so its scope is wider than Article 14, which is limited to personal firearms and hunting weapons when it speaks of safety measures in transport and storage.
As for the form of these records, what is entered in them, and how they are kept, the article does not state them. It refers them to the forms and procedures set by the Implementing Regulations. A business owner should therefore consult the Regulations to learn the required forms.
This article complements Article 14, since the two set the obligations of holders of import, sale, and purchase licenses: Article 14 concerns safety in transport and storage, and this article concerns documentation in records. Article 16 gives the Minister, based on the requirements of the public interest, the power not to approve a license application, or to restrict or cancel an existing license.
People who carry out these activities may consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial matters and weapons regulations to make sure they comply with what the article requires.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh is licensed to import and sell air rifles. Under this article, it must keep special records for these rifles and their accessories, ammunition, and spare parts, using the forms and following the procedures 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 15 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Must a weapons shop keep records?
Yes. Anyone licensed to import weapons or to buy and sell them must keep special records of them.
What form of weapons register is required?
The article refers the forms and procedures to the Implementing Regulations.
Does the obligation cover all types of weapons?
Yes. The article refers to weapons of all types and their accessories, ammunition, and spare parts.
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 13
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.
يجوز للوزير السماح بعبور أسلحة الصيد وأسلحة الحماية الشخصية للأراضي السعودية، بما يتفق مع الأنظمة والأعراف الدولية المعمول بها وأنظمة الدولة المتجه إليها، وفي ض
- 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
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.