Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Nationality Law

Date of adoption

23 September 1954

Last amended: 14 February 1985

Entry into force

1954

Text versions

Arabic

Source:

– Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accessed: 21 May 2013,

Abstract

Art. 11 prohibits a Saudi national from acquiring a foreign nationality without prior permission from the Saudi Prime Minister. A Saudi who acquires a foreign nationality without prior permission is still considered a Saudi national unless the government decides to withdraw it in implementation of article (13).

If a Saudi national acquires a foreign nationality with prior permission, his wife shall not necessarily lose her Saudi nationality if she is included in her husband’s new nationality in accordance with the law of that country. She will lose it however if she declares her intention to acquire the new nationality and is granted permission to do so from the Minister of Interior. Underage children shall lose the Saudi Arabian nationality, if they enter into the new nationality, which their father has acquired by virtue of its law, and they shall have the right to restore the Saudi Arabian nationality within one year after reaching the age of maturity (Art. 12).

Art. 13 stipulates that any Saudi national may be denaturalized for any of the following cases:

a) If he acquires another nationality, violating the provisions of article (11) of this law.

b) If he works in the armed forces of a foreign country without prior permission from the Saudi government.

c) If he serves the interest of another country, which is in a state of war with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

d) If he accepts a job in a foreign country or in an international institution and remains in that job despite receiving an order from the Saudi government to leave it.

In all these cases the Saudi national shall be warned about the consequences of his action in a proper manner three months at least before issuance of the decree of withdrawal of the Saudi Arabian nationality. In all cases of denaturalization, in accordance with the provisions of this article, the property of a denaturalized person shall be confiscated in accordance with the Real Estate Ownership Law and he may be prevented from residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or returning to it.

Art. 17 stipulates that a Saudi woman may not lose her nationality if she marries a foreign national unless she acquires his nationality.

Art. 18 allows a Saudi woman married to a foreign national to reclaim her Saudi nationality upon the dissolution of her marriage and her return to reside in the Kingdom.

Art. 19 lists the provisions applicable to the wives and children of denaturalized individuals.