Articles
Cheques
Fraud & Scams
Fake account impersonation
Someone made a fake account in your name in Saudi Arabia? The penalty for impersonation under the Anti-Cyber Crime and Anti-Fraud laws, and what to do first.
Criminal LawHacked account
Snapchat or social media account hacked in Saudi Arabia? First steps to recover it, how to report it, and the penalty under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.
Criminal LawCyber blackmail
Blackmailed with photos in Saudi Arabia? The cyber extortion penalty under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, why you should not pay, what to save and how to report.
Criminal LawOnline fraud
Scammed online in Saudi Arabia? What to do in the first hour, how to file a fraud complaint, the penalty for fraudsters, and how to get your money back.
Criminal LawFraud penalty
Fraud punishment in Saudi Arabia: up to 7 years in prison and SAR 5 million, up to 14 years for gangs and repeat offenders, accomplices, and the victim's money.
Criminal LawFraud report
How to report fraud in Saudi Arabia: where to file, Absher and Kollona Amn, what to bring, how to write the complaint, and how to claim your money back in it.
Criminal LawRecover money
How to get money back from a scammer in Saudi Arabia: claim your private right in the complaint, avoid early waivers, and enforce the refund judgment on Najiz.
Criminal LawBreach of trust
Breach of trust in Saudi law: when a partner, agent or employee misuses money given to them, the penalty of up to 5 years and SAR 3 million, and fraud compared.
Criminal LawTrading scams
Lost money to a fake trading or crypto platform in Saudi Arabia? The warning signs, what to do in the first hour, the penalty for fraud, and recovering money.
Criminal LawImpersonation scams
Someone called pretending to be your bank or a government office in Saudi Arabia? The penalties for impersonation and OTP scams, and what to do right away.
Criminal LawOnline store fraud
Paid an online store in Saudi Arabia and got nothing? How to tell fraud from late delivery, your refund right after 15 days, and how to report a fake store.
Criminal LawAccused of fraud
Accused in a fraud case in Saudi Arabia? Your rights on arrest or summons, when detention happens, fraud vs a failed deal, and the steps before investigation.
Defamation & Harassment
Photos without consent
Is it illegal to take or post photos of people without permission in Saudi Arabia? The penalty under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, and what to do.
Criminal LawDefamatory online review
When does a negative Google Maps or online review of a business become defamation in Saudi Arabia? The penalty, the evidence to keep, and compensation.
Criminal LawWorkplace harassment
Workplace harassment in Saudi Arabia: the higher penalty when the harasser is your manager, the employer's duty on complaints, and leaving under Article 81.
Criminal LawOnline defamation
Online defamation in Saudi Arabia: the penalty under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, how to save evidence, where to report, and how to claim compensation.
Criminal LawInsult vs qadhf
Insulting someone in Saudi Arabia: insult (sabb) vs qadhf, the penalty for swearing on WhatsApp, how to prove it, and how to file a complaint.
Criminal LawHarassment penalty
The Saudi Anti-Harassment Law: what counts as harassment, the punishment and aggravating cases, how to prove it if messages were deleted, and where to report.
Drug Offences
First-time drug possession
Penalty for possessing drugs for personal use for the first time in Saudi Arabia: 6 months to 2 years, case closure for under-20s, treatment and travel ban.
Criminal LawDrug dealing penalties
Penalty for drug dealing in Saudi Arabia: first-time dealing vs repeat dealing and smuggling, when the death penalty applies, and what happens to a non-Saudi.
Criminal LawTreatment without prosecution
Will an addict be jailed for seeking treatment in Saudi Arabia? Article 42 bars a case if he or his family come forward and hand over the drugs.
Criminal LawUse, possession or dealing
How Saudi law separates drug possession for use, simple possession and possession for dealing, the penalty for each, how intent is proven, and treatment.
Criminal LawPositive drug test
Positive drug test at work or a traffic stop in Saudi Arabia? When it becomes a case, when the penalty is heavier, prescribed medicine, and your job.
Criminal LawDrug driving
Penalty for drug driving in Saudi Arabia: SAR 5,000-10,000 traffic fine and impoundment, 6 months to 2 years for drug use, accidents and your licence.
Criminal LawDetainee rights
Detained in a Saudi drug case, or a relative is? The right to know why, call family and hire a lawyer, the 24-hour limits, detention periods and objections.
Criminal LawTravel ban after drug case
Travel ban after prison in a Saudi drug case: how long it lasts, when it starts, whether travel can be allowed for necessity, and what applies to non-Saudis.
Criminal LawBail in drug cases
Bail or temporary release in Saudi drug cases: who decides, the conditions during investigation, when release is cancelled, and how it differs from objecting.
Criminal LawExpat deportation
Deportation of an expat after a drug case in Saudi Arabia: when it happens after the sentence, what if the case is closed, and the effect on work and licence.
Criminal Procedure
Rehabilitation
How long rehabilitation takes in Saudi Arabia: 10 or 4 years by law, 5 or 2 years by committee decision. Where to apply, excluded crimes, and what to prepare.
Criminal LawWaiving private right
Does waiving the private right in Saudi Arabia close a criminal case? The public right vs private right, waiver at the prosecution, before and after judgment.
Criminal LawDetention period
How long can the Public Prosecution detain a suspect in Saudi Arabia? 5 days, extensions up to 40 and then 180 days, who decides, and how to file a grievance.
Criminal LawBail and release
Is there bail in Saudi Arabia? Conditions for temporary release from detention, who decides at the prosecution or court, and whether a guarantee is needed.
Criminal LawRights of the accused
Your rights as an accused person in Saudi Arabia: the reason for arrest, a lawyer during investigation, reading the record before signing, and a free lawyer.
Criminal LawInvalid arrest and search
When is an arrest or search invalid in Saudi Arabia? Caught-in-the-act cases, home search warrants, searching your phone, and what invalidity does to evidence.
Criminal LawWrongful detention compensation
When can you claim compensation for detention or prison in Saudi Arabia? Malicious accusation, detention beyond the limit, where to sue, and proving harm.
Criminal LawCriminal appeal
How to appeal a criminal judgment in Saudi Arabia: the 30-day deadline and when it starts, cassation before the Supreme Court, retrial cases, and a strong memo.
Criminal LawFalse report
The penalty for a false or malicious report in Saudi Arabia: ta'zir set by the judge, the harassment-law rule, and how to prove malice and claim compensation.
Criminal LawMalicious lawsuit
When is a lawsuit malicious in Saudi Arabia? The court rejects it and may punish the claimant, and you can claim compensation during the case or separately.
Criminal LawDeportation after judgment
Does every judgment against an expat in Saudi Arabia lead to deportation? MOI Decision 1809 conditions (3+ months in prison), specific laws, and how to object.
Other Offences
Forgery penalty
Forgery punishment in Saudi Arabia: up to 3 years for private papers, 1 to 5 years for official and commercial papers, and how to challenge a forged signature.
Criminal LawMoney laundering penalty
Money laundering punishment in Saudi Arabia: 2 to 10 years or up to SAR 5 million, 15 years if aggravated. Lending your account, frozen funds, deportation.
Criminal LawBribery penalty
Bribery punishment in Saudi Arabia: up to 10 years and SAR 1 million for the official, payer and middleman, up to 5 years in the private sector, and exemption.
Criminal LawTheft penalty
Theft punishment in Saudi Arabia: no single prison term. Hadd under strict conditions, discretionary ta'zir, special texts for online theft, and proof.
Criminal LawAssault and battery
Assault penalty in Saudi Arabia: discretionary ta'zir plus a private right to arsh and compensation, set penalties under the Protection from Abuse Law, proof.
Criminal LawAttempted crime
Is an attempted crime punished in Saudi Arabia? Half the maximum penalty under some laws, the full penalty under others, with a table of texts and examples.