In brief
Defines harassment as any sexual word, act or gesture affecting a person's body or honour or offending their modesty by any means, including technology, sets penalties and aggravating circumstances, and requires workplaces to adopt preventive measures.
Summary of the law
Penalties
- Up to two years' imprisonment and SAR 100,000, or either (Article 6).
- Up to five years and SAR 300,000, or either, on repetition or where the victim is a child or has special needs, the offender has authority over the victim, or it happens at work, school or a care facility (Article 6).
- A malicious complaint or false claim of harassment carries the same penalty; attempt carries half the maximum (Article 7).
For employers
- Royal Decree M/48 of 1442H allows publication of a summary of the judgment. Employers should adopt internal rules to prevent harassment and handle complaints.
A plain-language summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm, focused on the violations and problems that come up most in daily life. It is not a substitute for the official text or for legal advice.
What it covers
- Definition
- Penalty and aggravation
- Malicious complaints
- Workplace duties
Timeline
- Issued: Royal Decree M/96 · 16/9/1439H
Full record of amendments and regulations at the official source
Official text at the Bureau of Experts
The authoritative text is in Arabic; the Bureau of Experts publishes English translations for some laws.
Full official text
The full official text is in Arabic and is reproduced on the Arabic version of this page, as published by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers. Read the full Arabic text
Library content is simplified general information for awareness only. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official text. Laws change: always check the official source and consult a lawyer before acting. Library data last reviewed: .