Thursday, September 25, 2025

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Saudi National Day violations could cost celebrants up to 500,000 Riyals

As Saudi Arabia marks its 95th National Day on September 23, legal experts are urging citizens and residents to celebrate responsibly.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Riyadh: Attorney Abdulrahman Al Hazmi stressed that popular gestures like fully covering vehicles with flags or painting them green are prohibited under traffic regulations. He explained that covering the entire vehicle with flags is against traffic rules and carries a fine of 500 to 900 riyals until corrected. Painting cars or adding symbols and slogans, he added, is considered altering vehicle features and could lead to penalties of 1,000 to 2,000 riyals.

Legal advisor Ahmed Saqti emphasized that National Day is a moment to celebrate unity while upholding civic discipline. Saqti outlined a series of penalties tied to unlawful acts: desecrating the national flag could lead to a year in prison or fines of up to 3,000 riyals; harassment may incur two years in jail or fines reaching 100,000 riyals; and privacy breaches, such as photographing people without consent, can be punished with up to one year in prison or a fine of 500,000 riyals.

Other violations include wearing inappropriate or offensive clothing, which carries a 5,000-riyal fine, and obstructing roads or improper parking during gatherings, both of which bring immediate penalties.

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