Riyadh is governed by federal Saudi Arabia law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- N/A
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Riyadh is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Riyadh is illegal (death penalty as punishment).
Current status
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Homosexuality is illegal
Same-sex marriage in Riyadh is banned.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
Banned
Because Homosexuality is unfortunately illegal in Saudi Arabia, same sex marriage is automatically illegal because of this.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Riyadh is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
In Saudi Arabia, there are laws restricting freedom of Expression . While there is not a specific law that bans freedom of expression, a prominent number of figures have been sentenced to lashings , imprisonment due to promoting LGBTQ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Riyadh is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Sharia laws prohibit crossdressing
Gender-affirming care in Riyadh is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2009
Legal
In 2009, Saudi Arabia adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Restricted
In 1985, Saud Arabia legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
Until 1985
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Riyadh is not legally recognized.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
Not legally recognized
Third gender is not available as crossdressing is illegal.
LGBT discrimination in Riyadh is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protection from discrimination to LGBT people
LGBT employment discrimination in Riyadh is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
No protections
Saudi Arabia has no laws that address LGBT discrimination in employment.
LGBT housing discrimination in Riyadh is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
No protections
Saudi Arabia has no laws that address LGBT housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Riyadh is n/a.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
N/A
Adoption is not legally available to anybody in Saudi Arabia, as per Islamic jurisprudence.
Intersex infant surgery in Riyadh is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There are no bodily protections for intersex individuals in Saudi Arabia. Many intersex infants born with ambiguous genitalia suffer from infanticide. The killing of intersex infants is primarily motivated by fears of the social shame of having an intersex child. Intersex genital surgery on newborns for cosmetic purposes is fully legal and encouraged.
Serving openly in military in Riyadh is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Sharia law prohibits LGBTQ+ personel to serve openly in the military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Riyadh is legal.
Current status
Legal
According to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health's website, there's no specific ban on blood donation by MSMs. While homosexuality is illegal, this does not automatically mean that MSM blood donations are illegal as well.
Until Sep 22, 1932
Banned (indefinite deferral)
No laws against it but its Illegal to be LGBT in this country.
Conversion therapy in Riyadh is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is currently not banned in Saudi Arabia.
Equal age of consent in Riyadh is n/a.
Current status
Since Sep 23, 1932
N/A
Homosexuality and extramarital sexual relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia.
Legal Rights
7 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Riyadh to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
- Pizzaslices412653 8 contributions
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- LGBT_southeastasian 7 contributions
- Unknownmiles 6 contributions
- Muhammadaji2022 6 contributions
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- Willow 4 contributions
- beeurd 4 contributions
- omalpau 4 contributions
- GeorgieTheOrgie 4 contributions
Riyadh LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Riyadh?
- Is homosexuality legal in Riyadh?
- Is gay marriage legal in Riyadh?
Alternative names: ar-Riyad, ar-Riyād̨, Riad, Riyadh, Riad