Article 24 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 24 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article bars granting a carrying license for more than one personal firearm, refers the type of that weapon to the Regulations, and allows the Minister in special cases to license carrying more than one weapon.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز منح رخصة حمل لأكثر من سلاح ناري فردي واحد، وتحدد اللائحة نوع هذا السلاح. وللوزير في حالات خاصة منح تراخيص بحمل أكثر من سلاح.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article limits the number of weapons for which a carrying license is granted, and contains three provisions:
- The rule: a carrying license may not be granted for more than one personal firearm.
- The type of weapon: the Implementing Regulations determine the type of this weapon; the text of the article does not state it.
- The exception: the Minister, who under Article 1 is the Minister of Interior, may in special cases grant licenses to carry more than one weapon. The article does not specify what these cases are.
This article differs from Article 23, which concerns acquisition and allows granting a license to acquire more than one personal firearm in accordance with what the Regulations determine. A person may be licensed to acquire more than one weapon, while a carrying license is, as a rule, for one weapon only.
Under Article 1, a personal firearm is one intended for use by one person, such as pistols and rifles. The exception in this article is tied to the Minister and to special cases, so it is not to be assumed that it is available to everyone who asks for it.
The article is linked to Article 25, which refers to the schedule attached to the Law the fees for a number of licenses, including a license to carry a firearm for individuals and a license to acquire a firearm for individuals.
Anyone who needs to carry more than one weapon because of special circumstances may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters and weapons regulations.
Practical example
Adel holds a license to acquire a pistol and a rifle, and he wants to carry them both. Under this article, a carrying license is granted only for one personal firearm, unless the Minister grants him in a special case a license to carry more than one weapon.
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 24 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
May more than one weapon be carried?
The rule is that a carrying license may not be granted for more than one personal firearm, and the Minister may in special cases grant licenses to carry more than one weapon.
Who determines the type of weapon allowed to be carried?
The Implementing Regulations of the Law.
What is the difference between a carrying license and an acquisition license?
As a rule, a carrying license is not granted for more than one personal firearm, while Article 23 allows granting a license to acquire more than one weapon in accordance with the Regulations.
More articles on Licensing to Carry and Own Weapons
- 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 8
The article gives the Minister of Interior the power to determine the places and times in which carrying a weapon is prohibited, even if the weapon is licensed.
يحدد الوزير الأماكن والأوقات التي يحظر فيها حمل السلاح المرخص بحمله.
- 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 10
The article allows the Minister to license certain Saudi institutions and companies to possess personal firearms and ammunition where the nature of their work requires arming some of their personnel.
للوزير الترخيص بحيازة أسلحة وذخائر نارية فردية لبعض المؤسسات والشركات السعودية التي تتطلب طبيعة عملها تسليح بعض منسوبيها، وفق الضوابط والشروط التي تحددها اللائح
- Article 11
The article allows the Minister of Interior, for special considerations he sees, to license a person residing in the Kingdom to buy, carry, and acquire a personal firearm.
للوزير -لاعتبارات خاصة يراها- الترخيص بشراء سلاح ناري فردي وحمله واقتنائه لشخص يقيم في المملكة.
- Article 23
The article allows granting a license to acquire more than one personal firearm, in accordance with what the Regulations determine.
يجوز منح رخصة اقتناء لأكثر من سلاح ناري فردي، وفقا 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.