Article 34 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 34 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to thirty years and a fine of up to SAR 300,000 anyone who smuggles, uses or deals in military or personal weapons with intent to disturb internal security.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاثين سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز ثلاثمائة ألف ريال كل من يثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي:
أ - تهريب أسلحة حربية أو فردية أو قطع منها أو ذخائرها إلى داخل المملكة بقصد الإخلال بالأمن الداخلي.
ب - استعمال الأسلحة الحربية أو الفردية أو ذخائرها أو قطع منها، أو صنعها أو تجميعها أو بيعها أو شراؤها أو حيازتها، بقصد الإخلال بالأمن الداخلي.
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 34 explained in plain English
This article concerns acts connected with weapons with intent to disturb internal security. The decisive element here is the intent, not merely the act.
The penalty is: imprisonment for a period not exceeding thirty years and a fine not exceeding SAR 300,000. Note that the text joins the two penalties with "and", and does not use the phrase "or one of these two penalties" that appears in Article 35.
The punishable acts include:
- Paragraph (a): smuggling military or personal weapons, or parts or ammunition of them, into the Kingdom with intent to disturb internal security.
- Paragraph (b): using military or personal weapons, their ammunition or parts of them, or manufacturing, assembling, selling, buying or possessing them, with intent to disturb internal security.
Military weapons under Article 1 include weapons designed for military operations such as machine guns, cannons and missiles, and those that use rays, gases or poisons. Personal weapons are those designed for use by one person such as pistols and rifles.
Article 35 follows, punishing smuggling or manufacturing military weapons with intent to trade with a lighter penalty of up to twenty years. A difference in intent therefore changes the article applied and the amount of the penalty.
Because of the gravity of these acts, anyone facing an accusation under it needs to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 34 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
What is the penalty for smuggling weapons with intent to disturb security in Saudi Arabia?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding thirty years and a fine not exceeding SAR 300,000.
Does the article cover personal weapons such as pistols?
Yes. It covers military and personal weapons, their parts and their ammunition if the act is with intent to disturb internal security.
What is the difference between Article 34 and Article 35?
Article 34 punishes the acts when done with intent to disturb internal security, whereas Article 35 punishes smuggling or manufacturing military weapons with intent to trade with a penalty of up to twenty years.
More articles on Penalty for Weapons Smuggling
- Article 35
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to twenty years and a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or either, anyone who smuggles military weapons, their parts or ammunition, or manufactures them, with the intent of trade.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز عشرين سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز مائتي ألف ريال أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين كل من يثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي : أ - تهريب أسلحة حربية أو قطع منها
- Article 37
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either, anyone who manufactures personal weapons, their parts or ammunition, or smuggles them into the Kingdom with the intent of trade.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز عشر سنوات وبغرامة لا تتجاوز مائة ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من ثبت قيامه بصنع أسلحة فردية أو قطع منها أو ذخائرها، أو ثبت
- Article 38
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either, smuggling hunting weapons for trade, smuggling personal weapons for personal use, making hunting weapons and modifying their mechanisms.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز خمس سنوات وبغرامة لا تتجاوز ثلاثين ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين كل من ثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي: أ - تهريب أسلحة صيد أو قطع منها أ
- Article 41
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 5,000, or either, thirteen offenses, including using a weapon for a purpose other than its licensed one, hunting with a firearm and lending a licensed weapon.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز سنة وبغرامة لا تزيد على خمسة آلاف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من ثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي: أ - استعمال السلاح المرخص له بحمله وا
- Article 47
The article punishes anyone who sells or gives away within the Kingdom weapons and ammunition permitted to transit its territory with the penalties for weapons smugglers, according to the type of weapon.
يعاقب كل من يثبت تصرفه في الأسلحة والذخائر المصرح بعبورها أراضي المملكة بالبيع أو الإهداء داخل المملكة بالعقوبات الخاصة بمهربي الأسلحة بحسب نوعها.
- Article 51
The article requires aggravated penalties under Articles 34, 35 and 36 where the violator is an employee of the bodies concerned with applying the Weapons and Ammunition Law.
يراعى تشديد العقوبات المقررة في المواد (الرابعة والثلاثين، والخامسة والثلاثين، والسادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام إذا كان مرتكب المخالفة أحد موظفي الجهات ذات الع
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.