Does a Child Born in Saudi Arabia Get Citizenship?

Based on Saudi law, a child born in Saudi Arabia does **not automatically receive citizenship solely by being born in the country**.

Saudi Arabian citizenship is primarily determined by the nationality of the parents, following the principle of *jus sanguinis* (right of blood), rather than the principle of *jus soli* (right of soil), where citizenship is granted by place of birth.

According to the provided reference, Article 6 of the Saudi Nationality System clearly states:

> **Every person born inside or outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Saudi parents or of a Saudi father shall be a Saudi national**. Article 7.

This means that the key factor for a child to obtain Saudi citizenship at birth is having Saudi parents or at least a Saudi father, regardless of whether the birth occurs inside or outside Saudi Arabia.

## Understanding Saudi Citizenship at Birth

Here are the key takeaways regarding citizenship for a child born in Saudi Arabia, based on the reference:

*   **Parentage is Key:** Citizenship is granted if the child is born to Saudi parents or a Saudi father.
*   **Location is Secondary:** The place of birth (inside or outside Saudi Arabia) is not the deciding factor for automatic citizenship.
*   **Jus Sanguinis System:** Saudi Arabia follows a system where citizenship is inherited from the parents.

To illustrate the difference between Saudi Arabia's approach and a country that grants citizenship based on birth location:

| Basis for Citizenship | Saudi Arabia (Based on Reference)                  | Example: A Jus Soli Country (e.g., USA) |
| :---------------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------- |
| **Primary Factor**      | Parent's Nationality (Saudi parents or Saudi father) | Place of Birth (Born within the territory) |
| **Birth in Country**    | Does not guarantee citizenship                      | Typically grants automatic citizenship |
| **Birth Outside Country** | Can grant citizenship if parents/father are Saudi  | Does not grant citizenship (usually)    |

## Practical Insight

For a child born in Saudi Arabia to foreign parents, birth in the Kingdom itself does not confer Saudi nationality. The child's citizenship will be that of their parents according to the laws of the parents' home country.

While there may be provisions in Saudi law for naturalization or granting citizenship under specific conditions later in life, the automatic acquisition of citizenship at birth is tied to parentage as highlighted in the provided Article 6.