Article 2 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 2 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article states who may carry and use military and personal government weapons and their ammunition: military personnel of specified bodies and certain civilian government employees.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يسمح بحمل الأسلحة الحربية والفردية الحكومية وذخائرها واستخدامها وفق الأنظمة والأوامر الخاصة بحملها واستخدامها لكل من:
1- العسكريين العاملين في:
أ - الحرس الوطني.
ب - وزارة الدفاع والطيران.
ج - وزارة الداخلية.
د - الاستخبارات العامة.
هـ- رئاسة أمن الدولة.
2 - موظفي الحكومة المدنيين الذين ينص نظام الجهة التابعين لها على جواز حملهم أسلحة حكومية.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article identifies the groups permitted to carry and use military and personal government weapons and their ammunition, meaning weapons that belong to the government rather than personal weapons. Carrying and use must be in accordance with the laws and orders governing their carrying and use, so the permission is not absolute.
The groups named are of two kinds:
- Serving military personnel of: the National Guard, the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, the Ministry of Interior, the General Intelligence, and the Presidency of State Security.
- Civilian government employees whose agency's law provides that they may carry government weapons. Being a government employee is not enough; the law of the employee's agency must contain a provision allowing it.
Military weapons and personal firearms are understood here as defined in Article 1: military weapons are those designed specifically for use in military operations, such as machine guns, cannons, and missiles, and personal firearms are those intended for use by one person, such as pistols and rifles. The import, sale, and purchase of personal firearms, hunting weapons, and air rifles are addressed in Article 3, which limits them to licensed Saudis in accordance with the Regulations.
Anyone with a question about whether their job falls under this provision should refer to the law of their agency and the orders governing carrying, and may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters.
Practical example
Ahmed is a civilian employee at a government agency in Riyadh, and he sees his military colleagues at the Ministry of Interior carrying government weapons at work. This does not mean he has the same right. Under this article, a civilian employee may carry a government weapon only if the law of his agency provides that this is permitted.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 2 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Who is entitled to carry a government weapon in Saudi Arabia?
Serving military personnel of the National Guard, the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, the Ministry of Interior, the General Intelligence, and the Presidency of State Security, and civilian government employees whose agency's law allows them to carry government weapons.
May any civilian government employee carry a government weapon?
No. Only those whose agency's law provides that they may carry government weapons.
Can military personnel carry a government weapon without restrictions?
No. The article makes carrying and use subject to the laws and orders governing the carrying and use of these weapons.
More articles on Types of Weapons and Their Definitions
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.