Article 16 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 16 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article allows the Minister, based on the requirements of the public interest, to refuse a license application or to restrict or cancel an existing license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للوزير -بناء على مقتضيات المصلحة العامة - عدم الموافقة على طلب الترخيص، أو تقييد الترخيص القائم، أو إلغاؤه.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article gives the Minister, who under Article 1 is the Minister of Interior, powers over license applications and existing licenses, based on the requirements of the public interest. These powers cover three matters:
- Not approving a license application, meaning rejecting the application.
- Restricting an existing license, meaning placing restrictions on a license already issued.
- Cancelling the existing license.
The standard the text ties to these powers is the public interest. The text does not require that the applicant or license holder have committed a violation. Nor does the article specify the forms the public interest may take, or the procedures for refusal, restriction, or cancellation.
The text is general in the word "license" and does not limit it to a particular type of license issued under the Law.
This article is linked to Article 17, which provides that all licenses issued under the Law benefit only the licensee himself, and to Article 15, which requires those licensed to import, sell, and buy weapons to keep special records of them according to the forms and procedures set by the Regulations.
Anyone whose application was rejected or whose license was restricted or cancelled and who wants to know his options may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
Nasser holds a license to own a weapon, then receives a decision restricting his license. Under this article, the Minister of Interior has the power to restrict or cancel an existing license based on the requirements of the public interest, and the text does not require that this be because of a violation by Nasser.
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 16 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Can a weapon license application be refused?
Yes. The Minister may, based on the requirements of the public interest, not approve a license application.
May a weapon license be cancelled without a violation?
The text ties the Minister's power to cancel or restrict to the requirements of the public interest and does not require that a violation have occurred.
What does restricting a license mean?
That the Minister places restrictions on an existing license, based on the requirements of the public interest.
More articles on Cancellation of a Weapon License
- Article 17
The article provides that all licenses issued under the Weapons and Ammunition Law benefit only the licensee himself.
جميع الرخص الصادرة بموجب أحكام هذا النظام لا يستفيد منها إلا المرخص له نفسه.
- Article 18
The article sets out four cases in which a license to carry or acquire a weapon is cancelled, and states who disposes of the weapon and its ammunition after cancellation in three of them.
تلغى رخصة حمل السلاح أو اقتنائه في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا تقررت مصادرة السلاح وذخيرته. ب - إذا فقد المرخص له شرطا من شروط منح الرخصة. ج - إذا توفي المرخص له أو
- Article 19
The article sets two cases in which a license to import personal firearms, or licenses to sell, buy, or repair them, is cancelled: death or loss of capacity, and loss of one of the license conditions.
تلغى رخصة استيراد الأسلحة النارية الفردية أو رخص بيعها وشرائها أو إصلاحها في الحالات الآتية: أ - وفاة صاحب الرخصة أو فقد أهليته. ب - فقدان شرط من شروط منح الرخص
- Article 21
The article bars giving a person whose license was cancelled any new license for any other weapon, except in the cases determined by the Regulations.
لا يجوز إعطاء الشخص الملغى ترخيصه أي ترخيص جديد على أي سلاح آخر إلا في الحالات التي تحددها اللائحة .
- Article 22
The article refers to the Regulations the procedures to be taken if a weapon license is lost or damaged.
تحدد اللائحة الإجراءات الواجب اتخاذها في حال فقدان الرخصة أو تلفها.
- Article 27
The article allows compensation equal to the value of a licensed weapon and its ammunition if it is decided to hand it over to the State in the cases that require this, as the Regulations determine.
يجوز التعويض بما يعادل قيمة السلاح المرخص وذخيرته إذا تقرر تسليمه للدولة في الحالات التي توجب ذلك طبقا لما تحدده اللائحة .
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.