Saudi Arabia applies Islamic Sharia law as the foundation of its criminal justice system. Under Article 1, courts apply Sharia principles derived from the Quran and Sunnah, alongside state laws that do not conflict with them. This means penalties can include those prescribed under Sharia, such as fines, imprisonment, deportation, flogging (in certain cases), amputation, qisas (retaliatory punishment), and the death penalty for the most serious offences.
Article 10 specifically highlights that sentences of death, stoning, amputation, or qisas must go through multiple levels of judicial review — including the Supreme Court — before they can be considered final and carried out. This multi-tier review process is an important safeguard.
Critically, Article 3 states that no penalty may be imposed on any person without a conviction following a proper trial. Expatriates are fully subject to Saudi criminal law while residing or visiting the country. Behaviours that may be legal in your home country — such as consuming alcohol, cohabiting outside marriage, or certain forms of public expression — can be criminal offences in Saudi Arabia. Understanding and respecting local laws is essential to avoiding serious legal consequences.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Saudi Arabia.