Spying on someone's phone or messages, or recording them without consent, is a crime under Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cyber Crime Law.
| Act | Penalty | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Intercepting data sent over a network without legal grounds | Up to one year and SAR 500,000, or either | 3 |
| Invading privacy by misusing camera phones | Up to one year and SAR 500,000, or either | 3 |
| Unlawful access to delete, leak or republish private data | Up to four years and SAR 3 million, or either | 5 |
Reviewed by: Ghada Nasser Al-HarbiAttorney at USUS Law FirmLast updated:
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Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for spying on someone's phone in Saudi Arabia?
Up to one year in prison and a fine up to SAR 500,000, or either (Article 3); leaking the data: up to four years and SAR 3 million (Article 5).
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Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 29 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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