How to obtain a firearm transport permit via Absher and the requirements

As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's rapid digital transformation under Vision 2030, the Ministry of Interior continues to develop its electronic services to streamline procedures for citizens and residents. The "Absher" platform is at the forefront of these initiatives, offering the "Firearms Movement Permit" service, a vital service aimed at regulating the carrying and possession of firearms to ensure public safety and compliance with security regulations.

This service is of paramount importance in the context of strengthening internal security, as it enables citizens who have a gun license to issue a temporary electronic permit to legally and safely transfer weapons from one area to another, thus avoiding legal accountability and ensuring that the weapon is not used for purposes other than those for which it is licensed.

Conditions for issuing a permit to carry a firearm

The Absher platform clarified that benefiting from this service requires fulfilling a set of basic conditions to ensure the beneficiary's eligibility, which are as follows:

• The beneficiary must have an active digital identity on the Absher platform.
• The beneficiary's record must be free of any security concerns or prior offenses that might hinder obtaining the permit.
• The weapon to be transported must be pre-registered under a valid "possession license" (and not just a carrying license).
• Adherence to the permitted limit, where no more than one weapon can be carried in the permit, and the number of weapons acquired does not exceed ten weapons.
• The weapon must have been purchased from legitimate sources, whether from licensed owners or authorized sales centers.

The citizen is also obligated, when submitting the application, to accurately specify the route of movement, the area to which it is headed, and the date of commencement of the permit, in addition to specifying the number of ammunition being transported, with full acknowledgment of the accuracy of the data and agreement to the terms of service.

Steps to apply via the Absher platform

To make things easier for beneficiaries, the permit issuance process can be completed entirely electronically by following these steps:

1. Log in to the beneficiary's account on the Absher electronic platform.
2. Go to the "My Services" tab.
3. Choosing the "Public Security" sector.
4. Click on the "Manage Weapons" option.
5. Review the available services and select "Firearm Movement Permit".
6. Fill in all the required data accurately (path, date, ammunition).
7. Review and confirm the application to issue the permit.

Areas where carrying weapons is strictly prohibited

Security officials have pointed out that obtaining a movement permit does not mean the freedom to carry weapons everywhere, as there are areas with religious and security restrictions where carrying weapons is strictly prohibited, including:

• The Two Holy Mosques (the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque) and their courtyards, in order to preserve the sanctity of the place and the safety of worshippers and pilgrims.
• Government areas and sensitive public facilities.
• Restricted security and military zones.

This precise regulation reflects the Kingdom’s keenness to control and restrict the possession of weapons within legal frameworks, which contributes to reducing crime rates and enhancing the sense of security among all members of society.