Saudi Arabian Nationality Law

Purpose and scope

• Governs the establishment, acquisition, loss, withdrawal and revocation of Saudi nationality, and has no retroactive effect (Article 2).

Key rules, rights and obligations

• A person is Saudi if born to a Saudi father inside or outside the Kingdom, to a Saudi mother and a father of unknown nationality or stateless, or in the Kingdom to unknown parents (Article 7 as amended).
• Nationality may be granted to a person born in the Kingdom to a foreign father and a Saudi mother on conditions including permanent residence on reaching majority and good conduct (Article 8 as amended).
• Nationality may be granted to an adult foreigner resident for ten consecutive years on conditions including good conduct and sound mind (Article 9 as amended).
• The Minister of Interior may grant nationality to a foreign wife or widow of a Saudi who applies and renounces her original nationality (Article 16 as amended).
• A Saudi may not acquire a foreign nationality without prior permission (Article 11).

Violations, penalties and common problems

• Nationality may be withdrawn by reasoned decree in cases such as acquiring another nationality without permission or serving in foreign armed forces without approval (Article 13).
• Nationality acquired by naturalisation may be revoked in cases set by the law (Article 21 as amended).
• Giving false statements or untrue documents to prove or deny nationality is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment or a fine of up to thirty thousand riyals (Article 26 as amended).

Procedures and key deadlines

• Applications for naturalisation or renunciation go to the Ministry of Interior with the required documents, and decisions follow the law and its regulation.
• A naturalised person's wife may keep her original nationality if she so decides within a year, and minor children may choose within a year of reaching majority (Article 14).

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.