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Saudi Arabia — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Saudi Arabia is 6,000,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Saudi Arabia is 35.02 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Saudi Arabia ranked at No. 161

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Saudi Arabia ranked at No. 72

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Saudi Arabia are reported to have 324,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Saudi Arabia are reported to have 90,4494 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Saudi Arabia, annual homicides by any means total

2002: 2025
2001: 185
2000: 1056
1999: 172
1998: 92

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Saudi Arabia, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2007: 0.907
2005: 0.90
2004: 2.10
2003: 1.21
2002: 1.96
2001: 0.87
2000: 0.61
1999: 0.85
1998: 0.47
1997: 0.82
1995: 0.83

ProductionGun Industry

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Small Arms Manufacture - World Ranking

In a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, Saudi Arabia is ranked 'small'8

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Saudi Arabia is reported to be US$85,4959 (2007)

Import Control

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Saudi Arabia is reported to be US$265,059,6519 (2009)10

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Saudi Arabia is reported to be US$28011

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Transparency of Small Arms Transfers

In the most recent survey of state transparency when declaring firearm and ammunition exports, Saudi Arabia was ranked number 46 among 49 major small arms exporting nations in 2011, with a score of 3.25 points of a possible total of 2512

MeasuresGun Regulation

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Saudi Arabia, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law13

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Firearm Tracing

In Saudi Arabia, state authorities carry out13 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, Saudi Arabia adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200214

United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

At the resumption of the most recent session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UNCCPCJ), a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council mandated to promote action to prevent national and transnational crime, Saudi Arabia was listed as an elected member for a three-year term of office15

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Saudi Arabia abstained from endorsing16 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed and ratified17 by Saudi Arabia

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Saudi Arabia committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects18

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Saudi Arabia has submitted one or more national reports19 13 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Saudi Arabia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated20 13

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Saudi Arabia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated20 13

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Saudi Arabia submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is apparent13

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated13 by Saudi Arabia to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Saudi Arabia has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Saudi Arabia has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194521

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 Saudi Arabia as a Participating State
Last Updated on 18 March 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2005.‘Recorded Homicide and Firearm Homicide in 53 Countries, Completed or Attempted.’ Eighth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2001-2002).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,15 April. (Q1077)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2004.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998-2000).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 March. (Q91)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Middle East and North Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3813)Full Citation

8.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Ranking of World's Small Arms Producers (By Sales).’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q103)Full Citation

9.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

10.

Berman, Eric.2011.‘Small Arms Transfers: Importing States.’ Weapons and Markets.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,11 November. (Q5997)Full Citation

11.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

12.

Lazarevic, Jasna.2011.‘Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer 2011, covering major exporters.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5354)Full Citation

13.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

14.

League of Arab States / UNODA.2002.‘Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Council of the League of Arab States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 January. (Q3215)Full Citation

15.

UNCCPCJ / UNODC.1991.‘Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.’ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.Vienna:United Nations Economic and Social Council / United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q3222)Full Citation

16.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

18.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

19.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

20.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

21.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

22.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation