{"id":8642,"date":"2026-10-12T18:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T15:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/drug-penalties-foreigners-saudi-arabia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T02:48:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:48:40","slug":"drug-penalties-foreigners-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/drug-penalties-foreigners-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug Penalties for Foreigners in Saudi Arabia: Deportation, Residency and 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>Drug penalties for foreigners in Saudi Arabia are the same as for Saudis: use under Article 41, possession under Article 39, dealing under Article 38 and smuggling under Article 37 of the Narcotics Law. The big difference is one consequence: <strong>deportation<\/strong>. Article 56 provides that a non-Saudi convicted of a drug offence is deported after serving the sentence and may not return, except as Hajj and Umrah rules allow. Here is what that means for a resident, his family and his employer.<\/p>\n<h2>Penalties for residents<\/h2>\n<table class=\"usus-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Offence<\/th>\n<th>Article<\/th>\n<th>Basic penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Use, or possession for personal use<\/td>\n<td>Art. 41<\/td>\n<td>6 months to 2 years in prison<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Possession or transport with no intent to deal or use<\/td>\n<td>Art. 39<\/td>\n<td>2 to 5 years, up to 50 lashes each time, fine SAR 3,000\u201330,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Possession, sale or purchase with intent to deal<\/td>\n<td>Art. 38<\/td>\n<td>5 to 15 years, up to 50 lashes each time, fine SAR 1,000\u201350,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Smuggling, importing, manufacturing; dealing a second time<\/td>\n<td>Art. 37<\/td>\n<td>Death as ta&#8217;zir; the court may instead impose at least 15 years and a fine of at least SAR 100,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The same relief applies to residents: closing the case for a first-time user aged 20 or under (Article 42), treatment instead of punishment (Article 43), and a reduced or suspended sentence for a non-repeat offender (Article 60).<\/p>\n<h2>Deportation: when and how<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>After conviction and sentence:<\/strong> deportation after serving the sentence, with no return except as Hajj and Umrah rules allow (Article 56).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Arriving for Hajj or Umrah:<\/strong> the Minister may settle for deporting an addict who arrived on a Hajj or Umrah visa carrying no more than his personal need (Article 47).<\/li>\n<li><strong>With money laundering:<\/strong> the Anti-Money Laundering Law also deports a non-Saudi after serving the sentence (its Article 28).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So deportation is not something a lawyer negotiates away after the judgment; it follows from a conviction. The real way to avoid it is the defence in the case itself: acquittal, closure, or a lighter classification before judgment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"usus-ig usus-ig-8642-1\"><img class=\"wp-image-8845\" src=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"856\" alt=\"What happens to residency and work? \u2014 Drug Penalties for Foreigners in Saudi Arabia (Usus Law Firm infographic)\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1-768x548.webp 768w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1-640x457.webp 640w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1-400x285.webp 400w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-1-367x262.webp 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Residency and work<\/h2>\n<table class=\"usus-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Issue<\/th>\n<th>What usually happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Work during detention<\/td>\n<td>Stops in practice; the employer may act under the Labour Law<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>End-of-service and wages<\/td>\n<td>Remain the worker&#8217;s right for the period worked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Absconding report<\/td>\n<td>May be filed if the employer is not told about the detention. See <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/absconding-report-saudi-arabia\/\">absconding report<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Deportation<\/td>\n<td>After serving the sentence, if convicted (Article 56)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Rights of a foreign suspect<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>All rights in the Criminal Procedure Law apply equally: a lawyer (Art. 4), knowing the charge (Art. 101), and contacting someone of his choice after arrest (Art. 116).<\/li>\n<li>Translation: a person who does not read Arabic should have his statements and what is read to him translated before signing.<\/li>\n<li>The embassy or consulate is informed under the procedures followed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"usus-ig usus-ig-8642-2\"><img class=\"wp-image-8846\" src=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2.webp\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1004\" alt=\"What is the defence built on? \u2014 Drug Penalties for Foreigners in Saudi Arabia (Usus Law Firm infographic)\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2.webp 1080w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2-768x714.webp 768w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2-640x595.webp 640w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2-400x372.webp 400w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-8642-2-367x341.webp 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Will a resident be deported for drug use?<\/h3>\n<p>If convicted of a drug offence, a non-Saudi is deported after serving the sentence (Article 56). If the investigation is closed under Article 42, there is no conviction.<\/p>\n<h3>Are drug penalties harsher for foreigners?<\/h3>\n<p>The penalty is the same by offence; the difference is deportation for non-Saudis and a travel ban for Saudis after the sentence (Article 56).<\/p>\n<h3>What about a pilgrim carrying drugs for personal use?<\/h3>\n<p>The Minister may settle for deporting an addict who arrived on a Hajj or Umrah visa with no more than personal need (Article 47).<\/p>\n<h3>Can a foreign suspect have a lawyer?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Every accused has the right to a lawyer during investigation and trial (Article 4 of the Criminal Procedure Law).<\/p>\n<h2>A resident facing a drug case?<\/h2>\n<p>Usus Law Firm handles <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/service\/drug-cases\/\">drug cases<\/a> for residents and Saudis, in English and Arabic, and keeps the family and employer informed confidentially. See <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/drug-lawyer-riyadh\/\">drug lawyer in Riyadh<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Articles cited are from the Law of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Royal Decree M\/39 of 8\/7\/1426H) and the Law of Criminal Procedure (Royal Decree M\/2 of 22\/1\/1435H). Always check the current official text.<\/em><\/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\/8642#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=\"6.2.2\" \/><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=\"wpcf7-6ae0e553c62bb-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=\"wpcf7-6ae0e553c62bb-field\" class=\"hp-message\">Please leave this field empty.<\/label><input id=\"wpcf7-6ae0e553c62bb-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>Drug penalties for foreigners in Saudi Arabia are the same as for Saudis: use under Article 41, possession under Article 39, dealing under Article 38 and smuggling under Article 37 of the Narcotics Law. The big difference is one consequence: deportation. Article 56 provides that a non-Saudi convicted of a drug offence is deported after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-criminal-law"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-8642-1140x445.jpg?wsr",1140,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-8642-463x348.jpg?wsr",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-8642-300x169.jpg?wsr",300,169,true],"full":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-8642.jpg?wsr",1200,675,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8642","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=8642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9072,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8642\/revisions\/9072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}