Are Barbiturates legal in Saudi Arabia?

Also known as: barbs

Legal status

Controlled under Royal Decree M/39 (2005), Schedule 2 (psychotropic substances), phenobarbital sits in Category D (1971 Convention Schedule IV), while secobarbital is a Category B (1971 Schedule II) substance expressly named among prohibited substances. Capital exposure attaches to smuggling or trafficking-with-intent-to-promote under Article 37; no barbiturate-specific capital case is documented, so drug-specific capital application is left to confirmation.

Consequences if caught

Capital exposure: not established for this substance. Saudi Arabia retains the death penalty for drug offences, under Royal Decree M/39 of 2005, article 37, for smuggling or trafficking with intent to promote, and that much is established here. What is not established is this substance's own position under it: the source read here gives neither the article that would carry it nor any quantity at which it would apply. No threshold is stated in this cell because none was established. Do not read the absence of a figure as a safe amount. The country level position is the one to act on, and the substance specific position has to be settled against the current instrument.

If prescribed or medical

Phenobarbital is a prescribable controlled anticonvulsant; import requires the SFDA Traveler's Permit, mandatory advance electronic clearance from 1 Nov 2025, with an attested prescription/medical report and ID (secobarbital is prohibited by name and is not importable).

Documentation

Royal Decree M/39 (2005), Schedule 2 psychotropic substances (phenobarbital Category D = 1971 Schedule IV; secobarbital Category B prohibited by name), per SFDA General Provisions for the Schedules; Art. 37 penalties.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Saudi Arabia’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.