How do you file an online police complaint in Saudi Arabia?
To file an online police complaint in Saudi Arabia, most people use the Public Security’s Kollona Amn app for crimes and security incidents, and the Absher platform for specific reports such as a stolen vehicle.
You describe what happened, attach any photos or files, submit, and keep the reference you receive. The police record the report and notify the Public Prosecution, which handles the investigation.
Emergencies, injuries and crimes still in progress need a direct call to the emergency services or a visit to the nearest police station. If the case may lead to charges or a claim for compensation, a criminal lawyer in Jeddah can review the wording before you submit it.
You can book a consultation on WhatsApp with the team at Al-Safwa Law Firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultations to review your documents and explain your legal options clearly.
Table of Contents
Which channel to use for an online police complaint in Saudi Arabia
An online police complaint is a report of a crime or security incident sent electronically to the Public Security instead of being written at a police station. Under Article 27 of the Law of Criminal Procedure, criminal investigation officers receive reports and complaints for all crimes, record them in a report, and promptly notify the Public Prosecution. An online police complaint in Saudi Arabia should go through an official channel such as Kollona Amn or Absher.
The right channel depends on what happened. The table below lists the common situations (checked November 2026; service names and menus on government apps can change).
| Situation | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Theft, harassment, threats, damage to property or another security incident that has already happened | Kollona Amn app (Public Security) | Attach photos, video or an audio note; follow the report status in the app |
| Your vehicle was stolen | Absher Individuals, Vehicles section | The Public Security launched this e-service in December 2022 so owners do not have to visit a police station to file |
| Lost or stolen passport or iqama | Passports (Jawazat) e-services on Absher and Muqeem | This is a document loss report, separate from a criminal complaint about the theft itself |
| Online fraud, blackmail, hacked account, defamation online | Kollona Amn or the cyber crime reporting service on my.gov.sa | See our guide to cyber crime in Saudi Arabia for evidence and penalties |
| Emergency, injury, crime in progress, suspect still nearby | Emergency call or the nearest police station | Do not wait to file online |
| A government website or e-service does not work | Digital Complaint on my.gov.sa | Not a police complaint: it is the Digital Government Authority’s service for faults in digital government services |
The Digital Complaint service often appears first in search results for police complaints, but it does not reach the police. A crime reported there will not start an investigation.
How to file a report through the Kollona Amn app
Kollona Amn (“We are all security”) is the security reports app published by the Public Security Department. It is the general online channel for citizens and residents to report incidents that do not need an immediate response.
- Install the official app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and check that the publisher is the Public Security.
- Sign in with your national single sign-on (Nafath) or the login method the app shows.
- Choose the report type that matches the incident. The list includes general security reports, traffic violations, harassment, human trafficking and cyber crime.
- Describe the incident in short, factual sentences: what happened, when, and where.
- Attach evidence: a photo, a video or an audio note.
- Submit and save the reference. The app lets you follow the status of your reports and see previous ones, and the police may contact you through it for more details.
Absher reporting services for individuals
Absher is the Ministry of Interior’s e-services platform. You sign in to Absher Individuals with your Saudi ID or iqama. It is not a general crime-reporting form, but it carries several security services that matter here:
- Stolen vehicle report: filed from the Vehicles section by the registered owner (details below).
- Lost or stolen passport: reported to the General Directorate of Passports through its e-services; employers report a lost iqama for their workers through Muqeem.
- Police station appointments: the appointments section includes police services such as reviewing an earlier report or transaction and withdrawing a report, so you can book a visit instead of queuing.
How to report a stolen vehicle in Saudi Arabia
Report a stolen car as soon as you notice it is missing. The sooner it is circulated as stolen, the harder it is to use in another crime or move out of the area. First make sure it was not towed or impounded. Then follow these steps.
- File online on Absher. Sign in to Absher Individuals, open Vehicles, go to the vehicle services (vehicle management), select the stolen vehicle and choose the stolen vehicle report service, then confirm. If the car is registered to another person or to your employer, the registered owner files, or you report at the police station.
- Or contact the police directly. Call the police or go to the nearest police station and give the plate number, make, model, colour and any distinctive marks.
- Bring proof of ownership to the station when asked: the vehicle registration (istimara), the insurance document, your driving licence, your ID or iqama, and any other papers that prove ownership.
- Inform the traffic department (Muroor) after the police report and hand in any documents it asks for.
- Notify your insurance company and ask what it needs from the police file. If the car is recovered, tell the insurer and the police so the search is cancelled and the records are updated. This avoids legal problems later, for example if the car is stopped while still listed as stolen.
Stolen car report template (English version)
Statements at a police station are written in Arabic. Prepare the facts in advance with this English version of the Arabic template and take it with you, or ask for an Arabic version prepared from it.
To: The Head of ________ Police Station
Subject: Report of a stolen vehicle
I report the theft of my vehicle: make and model ________, colour ________, plate number ________, vehicle registration (istimara) number ________, chassis number (VIN) ________, distinctive marks ________.
The vehicle was stolen in the city of ________, ________ Street, on ___/___/______ at about ___:___. It was last seen at ________ on ___/___/______.
I request that the necessary measures be taken promptly and that a search for the vehicle be circulated.
My details: Name ________ | ID or iqama number ________ | Address ________ | Mobile ________ | Signature ________
Protecting your car and your position
Keep a copy of the vehicle’s key data where you can reach it quickly: full make and model, year of manufacture, plate number, chassis number and the GPS tracker details if one is fitted. If you see someone trying to open your car, call the police at once rather than confronting them.
What to include in a police complaint
Whether you file in the app or at a station, a clear report is processed faster. Include: Include every detail the channel asks for so your online police complaint in Saudi Arabia is not returned.
- Your details: full name as in your ID or iqama, ID or iqama number, address and a mobile number you will answer.
- Time and place: the date, approximate time and exact location, with a map pin if you can.
- What happened, in order: short facts without opinions or accusations you cannot support.
- The other party: name, phone number, account, plate number or a description, if known.
- What was taken or damaged: serial numbers, IMEI for phones, chassis number for vehicles, and approximate value.
- Witnesses and evidence: names of witnesses, photos, videos, messages, receipts, CCTV locations.
- Your request: for example, a search for the vehicle, or action against the person and a claim for your private right (compensation).
Common reasons a report is delayed or sent back
- Vague time or location, so the police cannot identify the right station or check cameras.
- No proof of ownership for the stolen item or vehicle.
- Details that change between the online report and the later statement at the station.
- Evidence deleted or not preserved (messages, call logs, photos) before the report.
- Using the wrong channel, such as a ministry complaint form or the Digital Complaint service instead of a police report.
- Reporting late without explaining the delay.
When you must go to the police station in person
Online reporting starts the file, but some steps happen at a police station:
- Emergencies: violence, injury, a crime in progress or a suspect still at the scene need an immediate call or a visit.
- Formal statements: the police may ask you to give or sign your statement, identify items, or meet an officer at the scene. Article 28 allows officers to hear anyone who has information about the facts.
- No suitable online category, or no access to Absher or Nafath, for example for some visitors.
- Collecting recovered property or completing case requirements, which can be booked as a police appointment on Absher.
- Official copies of a report for an insurer, an employer or an embassy.
Getting a report number or a copy of the police report
When you file through Kollona Amn or Absher, keep the reference number and any text message you receive. Use it to follow up and quote it when you contact the police station or your insurer.
An online submission is not the same as an official police report document. If an insurer, employer or embassy needs a copy, ask the station handling the file. You can book that visit through the police appointments on Absher (“review of a previous report or transaction”). For a traffic accident, the accident report system differs; see our guide to a car accident in Saudi Arabia.
What happens after you file: police, Public Prosecution and court
The Law of Criminal Procedure (issued in 1435H / 2013, official English translation published by the Ministry of Justice) sets the path of a criminal complaint:
| Stage | Rule (Law of Criminal Procedure) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving the report | Article 27: officers receive reports and complaints for all crimes, record them in a signed report and a register, and notify the Public Prosecution | Your online report is registered and passed on; keep your reference |
| Crimes involving a private right | Article 17: no criminal action or investigation without a complaint from the victim, unless the Public Prosecution decides it serves the public interest | For many offences against individuals, your complaint is what starts the case |
| Your complaint as a claim | Article 29: a complaint by the injured person counts as a claim of his private right unless he expressly waives it before the investigator | Say clearly in the report if you want compensation |
| Claim during investigation | Article 69: the investigator decides on a private right claim within three days; a rejection can be appealed to the head of the department within one week of notification | Watch these short periods once you are notified |
| Closing the case | Articles 63 and 64: the head of the department decides on closure, and the victim is notified | You will be told if the file is closed |
| Withdrawal or pardon | Article 23: the victim’s pardon ends the private action but does not stop the public criminal action | Withdrawing your complaint does not always end the case |
| Going to court yourself | Article 16: the victim, his representative or heirs may bring a criminal action for cases involving a private right before the competent court | A lawyer can file and pursue the private claim for you |
The translation still uses the old name “Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution”. Today the authority is the Public Prosecution. No law sets a fixed time for a police or prosecution investigation; it depends on the evidence and the type of crime.
If money was taken, see how to recover money after fraud in Saudi Arabia and the fraud penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Notes for expats and non-Arabic speakers
- Keep your iqama valid and your Absher account active with a current mobile number, because the online channels depend on them.
- Statements and police reports are in Arabic. Ask for an interpreter if you do not understand what you are signing.
- Article 16 lets the victim act through a representative, and Article 69 lets the victim and his agent or attorney attend investigation proceedings under the regulations.
- If your company is the victim, for example of vehicle or equipment theft, the report should be filed by a person authorised to act for the company, with documents that prove the company owns the property.
Frequently Asked Questions about online police complaints
An online police complaint in Saudi Arabia is quick to file when you use the right channel: Kollona Amn for most incidents, Absher for a stolen vehicle and lost documents, and the police station for emergencies and official copies. A precise, consistent report with evidence and a clear request for your private right makes the rest of the process smoother.
If you are the victim or the accused, or a company needs to report theft or fraud, our team can review the facts and draft the complaint before you file. You can also read about our criminal lawyer services in Saudi Arabia.
To get a legal consultation from our team, contact us via the WhatsApp button at the bottom of the screen.
Read also:
Sources:
- Law of Criminal Procedure, official English translation (Ministry of Justice), Articles 16, 17, 23, 27 to 29, 63, 64 and 69 (checked November 2026)
- Absher, Ministry of Interior e-services platform (checked November 2026)
- Ministry of Interior
- Public Prosecution
- HRSD announcement of the Digital Complaint service on my.gov.sa (Digital Government Authority) (checked November 2026)
- National Unified Portal for Government Services (my.gov.sa)
A legal advisor holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the prestigious Cairo University. He possesses extensive experience spanning over 25 years in criminal, civil, and family law, during which he has achieved notable accomplishments that have solidified his reputation as a valuable asset to any legal team
