Also known as: hashish laws in Saudi Arabia · drug laws in Saudi Arabia

Cannabis Laws in Saudi Arabia

Complete prohibition with severe penalties including capital punishment for trafficking offenses.

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Published May 11, 2026

Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check current rules with official sources or a lawyer.

↯ The honest take

Saudi Arabia has zero tolerance for cannabis in any form—herbal, CBD, edibles, everything. Possession means prison and lashes. Trafficking can mean death. This isn't a place where legal gray areas exist, and foreign travelers get no exceptions. The country has resumed executing people for drug offenses after a pause. If you're going there, assume any cannabinoid product is contraband, and verify with your embassy before travel.

Legal Status

Cannabis in all forms—herbal cannabis, hashish, edibles, vape cartridges, and CBD products—is illegal in Saudi Arabia Strong evidence^[1]. There is no recreational allowance, no decriminalization threshold, and no medical cannabis program.

The country's drug regime is governed primarily by the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, issued by Royal Decree No. M/39 of 1426 AH (2005), which schedules cannabis as a prohibited narcotic Strong evidence^[1]^[2]. Enforcement is handled by the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) under the Ministry of Interior, and prosecutions proceed under a legal system that blends statutory law with judicial discretion grounded in Sharia Strong evidence^[2].

Possession and Personal Use Penalties

Penalties for possession depend on quantity, offender status (citizen or foreigner), and criminal history. For personal use and small-quantity possession, penalties include imprisonment, fines, and corporal punishment (lashes). Sentences of two years or longer have been reported for first-time possession offenses Strong evidence^[1]^[2].

Foreigners convicted of possession face the same sentences as citizens but are typically deported after completing their sentence Strong evidence^[1].

Trafficking and Capital Punishment

Cannabis trafficking and smuggling carry severe penalties, including long prison terms, heavy fines, lashes, and capital punishment Strong evidence^[2]. Saudi Arabia has executed individuals for drug trafficking offenses involving cannabis and hashish. Amnesty International and Reprieve have documented multiple executions of foreign nationals for hashish trafficking Strong evidence.

The country observed an informal moratorium on drug-related executions for a period but resumed them in late 2021. Execution numbers for drug offenses rose sharply during 2022–2024 Strong evidence.

Travelers, Expats, and Airport Screening

Foreign visitors and residents receive no exemption from cannabis laws. Saudi Arabia's customs authorities conduct aggressive screening at ports of entry, including King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah), King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), and land borders. Detection of cannabis products typically results in arrest and prosecution Strong evidence^[3].

This applies to products legal in the traveler's country of origin: CBD oil, hemp gummies, THC vape pens, and cannabis-infused cosmetics are all treated as controlled substances Strong evidence^[3]. The U.S. State Department and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office both explicitly warn travelers that drug offenses in Saudi Arabia carry severe penalties up to and including death Strong evidence^[3]^[4].

Diplomatic intervention by home governments has historically been limited in drug cases, and consular access does not prevent prosecution under Saudi law Strong evidence^[3]^[4].

Medical Cannabis and CBD Products

Saudi Arabia has no medical cannabis framework. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates pharmaceuticals, and no cannabis-based medicine—including products like Epidiolex (CBD) or Sativex that are approved in other jurisdictions—is registered for general use in the Kingdom Strong evidence^[1].

CBD products are not legally distinguished from other cannabis derivatives. Travelers should assume that any product containing cannabinoids, regardless of THC content or hemp-derived status, will be treated as a controlled substance Weak / limited^[1]. This contrasts sharply with neighboring United Arab Emirates, which softened some personal-use penalties in 2022; Saudi Arabia has not followed suit.

Recent Developments and Social Liberalization

Saudi Arabia has undergone broad social liberalization under Vision 2030, including reforms to entertainment, tourism, and some social codes. However, drug policy has not been reformed, and enforcement has intensified rather than relaxed. The GDNC has publicized large hashish seizures, and the resumption of drug-related executions in 2021 reversed an earlier de facto moratorium Strong evidence.

As of October 2026, there is no public proposal, draft law, or official statement suggesting that cannabis decriminalization or a medical program is under consideration No data.

Not Legal Advice

This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Saudi drug law carries some of the harshest penalties in the world, including capital punishment. If you are facing a charge, planning travel, or unsure about a specific product, consult a Saudi-licensed attorney and your home country's consulate immediately.

Laws and enforcement priorities can change. Verify current status with official government sources and your embassy before relying on any information here.

Last verified: October 2026.

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Generation history

Oct 30, 2026

Fact-check pass — raised 9 flags

Oct 30, 2026

Revision

May 11, 2026

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