{"id":7077,"date":"2026-10-04T17:39:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T14:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/saudi-criminal-procedure-law\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T11:36:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T08:36:53","slug":"saudi-criminal-procedure-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/saudi-criminal-procedure-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Criminal Procedure Law: Arrest, Detention and Your Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.usus-tbl{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:760px;margin:12px 0 20px;font-size:15px}.usus-tbl th{background:#f4eff9;color:#2A124A;font-weight:700;text-align:right;padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:2px solid #C9A227}.usus-tbl td{padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5ddec;vertical-align:top}<\/style>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p>The <strong>Saudi Criminal Procedure Law<\/strong> (\u0646\u0638\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u062c\u0631\u0627\u0621\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0632\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0629) sets out how a criminal case is handled in the Kingdom: how a suspect is arrested, who investigates them, how long they can be detained, and what rights they have up to the judgment and any objection to it. The current law was issued by Royal Decree No. (M\/2) dated 22\/1\/1435H. Knowing this law is the first line of defense for any accused person and their family, because many cases are effectively decided in the first hours.<\/p>\n<p>This is a general explanation. The reference is the current official text and its regulations, and every case needs a lawyer to review its details.<\/p>\n<h2>Stages of a criminal case<\/h2>\n<table class=\"usus-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Stage<\/th>\n<th>Authority<\/th>\n<th>What happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Inquiry and arrest<\/td>\n<td>Criminal investigation officers (the police and others)<\/td>\n<td>Gathering information, arrest in the cases the law permits, and hearing the arrested person&#8217;s statement.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Investigation<\/td>\n<td>The Public Prosecution<\/td>\n<td>Questioning the accused, hearing witnesses and gathering evidence, then either closing the case or bringing charges.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Trial<\/td>\n<td>The Criminal Court<\/td>\n<td>Hearing the case, the prosecution and the defense, and issuing judgment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Objection<\/td>\n<td>The Court of Appeal, then the Supreme Court<\/td>\n<td>Challenging the judgment within the statutory periods.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Arrest and what must follow<\/h2>\n<p>No one may be arrested or detained except in the cases provided for by law. The arresting officer must hear the arrested person&#8217;s statement immediately, and if it does not clear them, they must be sent to the investigating authority within twenty-four hours. The arrested person may not be harmed physically or mentally, nor subjected to torture or degrading treatment.<\/p>\n<h2>Detention and its periods<\/h2>\n<p>If the investigator considers that the investigation requires the accused to be detained, a detention order is issued for a set period. It can be extended by decisions of the competent authority within maximum limits set by the law, after which detention continues only by order of the competent court. Check the detention periods and extensions in the current official text: they are among the most frequently asked questions, and the detainee and their family have the right to know the legal basis for continued detention.<\/p>\n<h2>Temporary release and bail<\/h2>\n<p>A detainee may be released temporarily during the investigation if the investigation does not require continued detention. This may be on a personal guarantee or a financial guarantee (bail), where the guarantor undertakes to bring the accused whenever required. A release request based on clear grounds, such as no risk of flight or of interfering with evidence, is one of the most important things a lawyer can submit early.<\/p>\n<h2>Rights of the accused under the Criminal Procedure Law<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The right to a lawyer<\/strong> during investigation and trial.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The right to know the charge<\/strong> against them and its evidence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No coercion:<\/strong> a confession obtained by coercion or threats is not valid.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inviolability of the home:<\/strong> a home may only be searched in the cases provided for by law and, outside cases of being caught in the act, with authorization from the competent authority.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Notification:<\/strong> the detainee has the right to inform a family member of their choice of the detention.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Defense and objection:<\/strong> submitting defenses and evidence, and objecting to the judgment within the statutory period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Proceedings are conducted in Arabic. A foreign accused who does not speak Arabic should make sure they understand any statement before signing it, and our team can advise in English.<\/p>\n<h2>Closing the case or bringing charges<\/h2>\n<p>After the investigation, the Public Prosecution decides either to <strong>close the case<\/strong> if the evidence is insufficient or the act is not proven, or to <strong>bring a criminal case<\/strong> before the competent court. During the investigation, a lawyer can submit memoranda showing weak evidence or an invalid procedure, which may lead to the case being closed before it reaches court.<\/p>\n<h2>Trial and objecting to the judgment<\/h2>\n<p>The Criminal Court hears the case, listens to the prosecution and the defense, and rules either conviction or acquittal. The period for objecting to the judgment by appeal is thirty days as a rule, and missing it makes the judgment final. After judgment, the provisions of a <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/royal-pardon-saudi-arabia\/\">royal pardon<\/a> may apply to some cases according to its conditions.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Should a lawyer attend the investigation?<\/h3>\n<p>The accused has the right to a lawyer during investigation. A lawyer&#8217;s early involvement protects against answers that may be misunderstood and against procedures that may be invalid.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between closing a case and acquittal?<\/h3>\n<p>Closing the case is a Public Prosecution decision not to bring charges; acquittal is a court judgment after trial. Each ends the case in its own way.<\/p>\n<h3>Is a search carried out without authorization valid?<\/h3>\n<p>A search outside the lawful cases may invalidate the evidence it produced. This is one of the most important defenses, especially in drug cases, and assessing it requires a lawyer who has reviewed the official reports.<\/p>\n<h2>Need a criminal lawyer?<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Usus Law Firm<\/strong> team handles <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/service\/criminal-cases\/\">criminal cases<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/service\/drug-cases\/\">drug cases<\/a> from the investigation stage through to judgment and objection, in <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/lawyer-in-riyadh\/\">Riyadh<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/lawyer-in-tabuk\/\">Tabuk<\/a>. Read also <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/drug-penalties-saudi-arabia\/\">drug penalties in Saudi Arabia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Read also: <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/criminal-record-clearing-saudi-arabia\/\">Rehabilitation and clearing a criminal record<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#6a6178;border-top:1px solid #e6ddd0;padding-top:10px;margin-top:16px\"><em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"usus-qbox\">\n<h2>Request a quick consultation<\/h2>\n<p>Leave your name and mobile number, and a lawyer from our Riyadh or Tabuk office will call you during working hours. We advise in English.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f6963-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"6963\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7077#wpcf7-f6963-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"6963\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.2\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f6963-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<span id=\"wpcf7-6aca61a4c8ca7-wrapper\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap cf7apps-honeypot-wrap honeypot-qf-wrap\" style=\"position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap;border:0;\"><label for=\"wpcf7-6aca61a4c8ca7-field\" class=\"hp-message\">Please leave this field empty.<\/label><input id=\"wpcf7-6aca61a4c8ca7-field\"  class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text\" type=\"text\" name=\"honeypot-qf\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"new-password\" tabindex=\"1000\" data-cf7apps-tabindex=\"1000\" \/><\/span>\n<div class=\"usus-qf\">\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-name\">Name<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-name\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"q-name\" autocomplete=\"name\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your name\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"q-name\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-phone\">Mobile<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-phone\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-tel wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-tel\" id=\"q-phone\" autocomplete=\"tel\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"05xxxxxxxx\" value=\"\" type=\"tel\" name=\"q-phone\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-city\">City<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-city\"><select class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-select wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"q-city\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"q-city\"><option value=\"Riyadh\">Riyadh<\/option><option value=\"Tabuk\">Tabuk<\/option><option value=\"Other city\">Other city<\/option><\/select><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f w\"><label for=\"q-msg\">Your case in brief (optional)<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-msg\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"2\" maxlength=\"600\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea\" id=\"q-msg\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"One or two lines are enough\" name=\"q-msg\"><\/textarea><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"s\"><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Request a call from a lawyer\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Saudi Criminal Procedure Law (\u0646\u0638\u0627\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u062c\u0631\u0627\u0621\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0632\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0629) sets out how a criminal case is handled in the Kingdom: how a suspect is arrested, who investigates them, how long they can be detained, and what rights they have up to the judgment and any objection to it. The current law was issued by Royal Decree [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-criminal-law","category-saudi-laws-explained"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/criminal-lawyer-riyadh-tabuk-1140x445.jpg?wsr",1140,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/criminal-lawyer-riyadh-tabuk-463x348.jpg?wsr",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/criminal-lawyer-riyadh-tabuk-300x300.jpg?wsr",300,300,true],"full":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/criminal-lawyer-riyadh-tabuk.jpg?wsr",1200,1200,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7077\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}