Article 31 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 31 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article allows members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the Kingdom to bring in, carry, and acquire ordinary personal weapons by license and on condition of reciprocity, and restricts transferring their ownership.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - يجوز لأعضاء السلكين الدبلوماسي والقنصلي المعتمدين لدى المملكة جلب الأسلحة الفردية المعتادة وحملها واقتناؤها وكذلك ذخيرتها، وذلك بعد الحصول على ترخيص أو الحصول على هذه الأسلحة من المحلات المرخص لها بالبيع داخل المملكة بشرط المعاملة بالمثل.
ب - يصدر الترخيص المشار إليه في الفقرة ( أ ) من هذه المادة من الجهة المختصة بناء على طلب من وزارة الخارجية.
ج - لا يجوز لأعضاء السلكين الدبلوماسي والقنصلي نقل ملكية السلاح المرخص به إلا إلى عضو من البعثة الدبلوماسية نفسها أو القنصلية المعتمدة لدى المملكة. وفي غير هذه الحالة يجب إثبات خروج السلاح من المملكة عند انتهاء إقامة المرخص له في المملكة أو عند زوال الصفة الدبلوماسية أو القنصلية عنه، إلا إذا كان مصدر الحصول عليه من الداخل في ضوء ما ذكر في الفقرة ( أ ) من هذه المادة فيجوز التصرف فيه وفقا لهذا النظام ولائحته.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article regulates the status of members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the Kingdom with respect to ordinary personal weapons and their ammunition. Under the definition in Article 1, personal firearms are those intended for use by one person, such as pistols and rifles, as determined by the Implementing Regulations.
The article contains three provisions:
- Permission with conditions: they may bring in these weapons, carry them, and acquire them with their ammunition after obtaining a license, or obtain them from shops licensed to sell inside the Kingdom, on condition of reciprocity.
- The body issuing the license: the license is issued by the competent authority, which under Article 1 is the Ministry of Interior, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Transfer of ownership: they may not transfer ownership of the licensed weapon except to a member of the same diplomatic mission or the consulate accredited to the Kingdom. In any other case, the weapon's departure from the Kingdom must be proven when the licensee's stay ends or his diplomatic or consular status ceases.
The requirement to prove departure does not apply to a weapon its owner obtained inside the Kingdom from licensed shops, which may be disposed of in accordance with the Law and its Regulations.
Article 32 follows it and deals with a different case: Saudi diplomats and consuls working abroad bringing their personal weapons into the Kingdom after their work ends. To inquire about a particular case, one may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative and security regulations.
Practical example
A diplomat at a foreign embassy in Riyadh wishes to acquire a personal pistol. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submits a request to the competent authority to issue the license, provided that his country treats Saudi diplomats reciprocally. When his mission ends, he cannot sell the pistol to a friend outside the mission. He must either transfer it to a colleague in the same mission or prove its departure from the Kingdom, unless he bought it from a licensed shop inside the Kingdom.
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 31 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
May a foreign diplomat carry a weapon in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the Kingdom may bring in, carry, and acquire ordinary personal weapons after obtaining a license, on condition of reciprocity.
Who requests the weapon license for a diplomat?
The license is issued by the competent authority at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Can a diplomat sell his licensed weapon to anyone?
No. Ownership may be transferred only to a member of the same mission or the accredited consulate. Otherwise the weapon's departure from the Kingdom must be proven, unless it was obtained from a licensed shop inside the Kingdom, in which case it is disposed of in accordance with the Law and its Regulations.
More articles on Weapons of Diplomats and Official Delegations
- Article 32
The article allows Saudi diplomatic and consular corps members working abroad to bring their personal weapons into the Kingdom after their work ends, in accordance with the Regulations.
يجوز لأعضاء السلكين الدبلوماسي والقنصلي السعوديين العاملين في الخارج، جلب أسلحتهم الفردية إلى المملكة بعد انتهاء عملهم في الخارج بحسب التعليمات والإجراءات التي
- Article 33
The article allows members of official or military delegations and persons on official missions to bring along and carry their ordinary official personal weapons, in accordance with international custom, on condition of reciprocity, and with prior notice to the Ministry.
يجوز لأعضاء الوفود الرسمية أو العسكرية أو الأشخاص المكلفين بمهمات رسمية اصطحاب أسلحتهم الفردية الرسمية المعتادة وحملها، وذلك وفقا للعرف الدولي وبشرط المعاملة با
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.