Article 8 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 8 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحدد الوزير الأماكن والأوقات التي يحظر فيها حمل السلاح المرخص بحمله.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article shows that a license to carry a weapon is not permission to carry it everywhere and at all times. It gives the Minister, who under Article 1 is the Minister of Interior, the power to determine:
- The places in which carrying a licensed weapon is prohibited.
- The times at which carrying a licensed weapon is prohibited.
The prohibition in this article applies to a weapon licensed to be carried. Even a holder of a lawful license must comply with the places and times the Minister determines in which carrying is prohibited.
The article itself does not specify these places or times. It leaves their determination to the Minister, so they cannot be learned from the text of the article, and reference is made to what the Minister determines.
The article is linked to Article 9, which allows the Minister to license the import, sale, purchase, carrying, acquisition, and repair of personal firearms, hunting weapons, training weapons, and air rifles in accordance with the conditions set by the Regulations. A carrying license that has been issued does not cancel the prohibited places and times the Minister determines under this article. Article 7 also requires anyone whose weapon is lost or damaged to notify the competent authorities within one month of learning of it.
A license holder should verify the prohibited places and times before carrying his weapon, and may consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal matters and weapons regulations when needed.
Practical example
Turki holds a lawful license to carry his pistol, and he wants to attend a public event in Riyadh. The license alone is not enough. He must make sure that the place and time are not among those the Minister of Interior has determined as places and times in which carrying a licensed weapon is prohibited.
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 8 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Does a weapon-carrying license allow carrying it anywhere?
No. The Minister may determine places and times in which carrying a weapon is prohibited even if it is licensed.
Who determines the places where carrying a weapon is prohibited?
The Minister of Interior, under this article and Article 1, which defines the Minister.
Does the article name specific places where carrying a weapon is prohibited?
No. The article leaves the determination of places and times to the Minister.
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 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 .
- Article 24
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.
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.
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.