Saudi Arabia Amends Nationality Law to Allow Granting of Citizenship by Prime Minister

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate. 

Updated March 2023

Saudi Arabia has recently passed a new nationality law that allows Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to grant citizenship to individuals chosen by the Ministry of Interior. This move came after a royal decree was issued on 11 January 2023, approving an amendment to Article 8 of the Saudi Nationality Law.

The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that the new law was officially legislated on 13 March 2023. A post on the official Twitter account of the Makkah Al Mukarramah region quoted the Ministry of Interior as saying that the law will enable the Prime Minister and Crown Prince to grant citizenship to individuals who meet certain criteria.

The text of the law was published in Umm Al Qura, the official gazette of the Kingdom, on 17 March 2023.

The amended text reads, “After reviewing Royal Decree No (M / 88) dated 6/11/1444 AH, Article Eight of the Saudi Nationality Law will be amended to ‘Saudi nationality may be granted by order of the Prime Minister based on a proposal from the Minister of Interior’.”

As per the text of the new law published in Umm Al Qura, the law will come into effect on the date of its publication in the official gazette. The relevant authorities will communicate the decision to those who are required to comply with it and act accordingly.