Article 3 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 3 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصر استيراد الأسلحة النارية الفردية والبنادق الهوائية و أسلحة الصيد المعرفة في هذا النظام ولوازمها وقطع غيارها وذخائرها، وبيعها وشراؤها على السعوديين المرخص لهم، وفقا للإجراءات 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 3 explained in plain English
This article sets a basic rule on dealing in weapons: the import of personal firearms, air rifles, and hunting weapons, with their accessories, spare parts, and ammunition, and likewise their sale and purchase, is limited to licensed Saudis.
This means two things must both be met:
- The person must be a Saudi.
- The person must be licensed.
The article does not give the detailed procedures and conditions. It refers to them to the Implementing Regulations, which are the reference for licensing requirements and how these activities are carried out.
The types of weapons named are understood as defined in Article 1: a personal firearm is intended for use by one person, such as a pistol or rifle; a hunting weapon is a smooth-bore firearm originally designed for hunting; and an air rifle is a shooting weapon without gunpowder whose projectile is fired by air pressure or a spring. Military weapons are not among the types named in this article, and Article 4 prohibits anyone other than the competent government bodies from manufacturing, importing, possessing, trading in, acquiring, or repairing them. Article 4 also requires a license from the Minister to import, sell, buy, carry, or acquire personal firearms and hunting weapons.
Anyone who wishes to enter this business or has a question about their situation may consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial matters and weapons regulations.
Practical example
Khalid is a Saudi citizen who wants to open a shop selling hunting rifles and their ammunition in Al-Qassim. Under this article, being a Saudi is not enough. He must be licensed and must meet the procedures and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations before he begins importing or selling.
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 3 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
May a non-Saudi open a weapons shop?
The text of the article limits the import, sale, and purchase of personal firearms, air rifles, and hunting weapons to licensed Saudis.
Does the article cover ammunition and spare parts?
Yes. It covers the named weapons together with their accessories, spare parts, and ammunition.
Where can I find the conditions for a license to sell weapons?
The article refers the procedures and conditions to the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
More articles on Importing and Selling 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 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
- 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.