diff --git a/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py b/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..087198ba23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,454 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# Based on code:
+# Copyright (c) 2023, Ondrej Zvara (ozvara1@gmail.com)
+# Copyright (c) 2021, Lennert Mertens (lennert@nubera.be)
+# Copyright (c) 2021, Werner Dijkerman (ikben@werner-dijkerman.nl)
+# Copyright (c) 2015, Werner Dijkerman (ikben@werner-dijkerman.nl)
+# Copyright (c) 2019, Guillaume Martinez (lunik@tiwabbit.fr)
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+DOCUMENTATION = r"""
+module: gitlab_merge_request_rule
+short_description: Manage Gitlab Project merge request rules
+version_added: 3.4.0
+description:
+  - Managing Gitlab Project merge request rules (requires Enterprise/Ultimate Edition).
+author:
+  - mil1i
+requirements:
+  - python-gitlab >= 2.3.0
+extends_documentation_fragment:
+  - community.general.auth_basic
+  - community.general.gitlab
+  - community.general.attributes
+
+attributes:
+  check_mode:
+    support: full
+  diff_mode:
+    support: none
+
+options:
+  state:
+    description:
+      - Create or delete protected branch.
+    default: present
+    type: str
+    choices: ["present", "absent"]
+  project_group:
+    description:
+      - The name/path of the group the project resides in.
+    required: true
+    type: str
+  project_name:
+    description:
+      - The name of the the project/repository.
+    required: true
+    type: str
+  rule_name:
+    description:
+      - The name of the custom merge request rule to manage.
+    type: str
+  approvals_required:
+    description:
+      - The number of approvals required before the rule passes to allow a merge.
+    type: int
+  usernames:
+    description:
+      - List of usernames of who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+  user_ids:
+    description:
+      - List of user_ids of who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+  groups:
+    description:
+      - List of group names (full path) or group ids of members who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+  protected_branches:
+    description:
+      - List of protected branch names or branch ids this rule applies to.
+      - Defaults to ALL branches if none specified.
+    type: str
+  applies_to_all_protected_branches:
+    description:
+      - Flag to enable applying this rule to ALL protected branches.
+      - Ignores "protected_branches" if this flag is set to True.
+    default: False
+    type: bool
+"""
+
+
+EXAMPLES = r"""
+- name: Create merge request rule 'first-rule' on main and develop
+  community.general.gitlab_merge_request_rule:
+    api_url: "https://{{ gitlab_url }}/"
+    api_token: "{{ api_token }}"
+    validate_certs: false
+    state: present
+    project_group: 'group/subgroup'
+    project_name: 'repo-name'
+    rule_name: 'first-rule'
+    approvals_required: 3
+    applies_to_all_protected_branches: false
+    protected_branch: main
+    usernames:
+        - someonesusername
+    user_ids:
+        - 290
+    groups:
+        - Teams/subgroup/subsubgroup
+        - 743
+"""
+
+RETURN = r"""
+"""
+
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.api import basic_auth_argument_spec
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.gitlab import (
+    auth_argument_spec, gitlab_authentication, gitlab
+)
+from itertools import chain
+
+
+class GitlabMergeRequestRule(object):
+    def __init__(self, module, gitlab_instance, group, project, rule_name, rule_approvals_required=0,
+                 rule_groups=None, rule_user_ids=None, rule_usernames=None, rule_branches=None,
+                 rule_all_protected_branches=False):
+        self._module = module
+        self.gitlab = gitlab_instance
+        self.group = self.get_project_group(group)
+        self.project = self.get_project(group, project)
+        self.protected_branches = self.project.protectedbranches.list(all=True)
+        self.rules = self.list_approval_rules()
+        self.rule_name: str = rule_name
+        self.rule_groups: int | list = self.build_groups(self._string_to_set(rule_groups))
+        self.rule_usernames: str = self._string_to_set(rule_usernames) if rule_usernames is not None else []
+        self.rule_user_ids: str | int | list = self._string_to_set(rule_user_ids) if rule_user_ids is not None else []
+        self.rule_users: str | int | list = self.build_users()
+        self.rule_apporvals_required: str = rule_approvals_required
+        self.rule_branches: str | int | list = self._gather_ids_for_protected_branches(rule_branches) if rule_branches is not None else []
+        self.rule_all_protected_branches: bool = rule_all_protected_branches
+        self.rule_exists, self.existing_rule = self.check_rule_exists(rule_name)
+        if self.rule_exists:
+            self._updates = False
+            self.rule_updated: bool = self.check_for_updates_to_existing_rule()
+
+    def _gather_ids_for_protected_branches(self, wanted_branches):
+        final_branches = set()
+        string_branches = self._string_to_set(wanted_branches)
+        for b in string_branches:
+            _id = b
+            if not b.isdigit():
+                try:
+                    _id = self._check_protected_branch_exists(b)
+                except gitlab.GitlabGetError as gerr:
+                    print(f'[{b}] {gerr.error_message}')
+            final_branches.add(_id)
+        return final_branches
+
+    def _check_protected_branch_exists(self, protected_branch):
+        try:
+            return next(pb.id for pb in self.protected_branches if pb.name == protected_branch)
+        except StopIteration:
+            return None
+
+    def _string_to_set(self, string):
+        try:
+            return set(string.strip().split(',')) if string is not None else None
+        except AttributeError:
+            if isinstance(string, int):
+                return set([string]) if string is not None else None
+            elif isinstance(string, list):
+                return set(string) if string is not None else None
+            return None
+
+    def _set_to_string(self, selfset):
+        return ','.join(str(s) for s in selfset) if selfset is not None else None
+
+    def build_groups(self, wanted_groups):
+        final_groups = set()
+        for grp in wanted_groups:
+            try:
+                final_groups.add(GitlabGroup(self._module, self.gitlab, grp).id)
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as err:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=f'Failed to determine specified group ({grp})', err=err)
+        return final_groups
+
+    def build_users(self):
+        final_users = set()
+        if self.rule_user_ids is not None:
+            if self.rule_usernames is not None:
+                combined_users = set(chain(self.rule_user_ids, self.rule_usernames))
+            else:
+                combined_users = self.rule_user_ids
+        elif self.rule_usernames is not None:
+            combined_users = self.rule_usernames
+        else:
+            return None
+        for usr in combined_users:
+            try:
+                found_user = GitlabUser(self._module, self.gitlab, usr)
+                final_users.add(found_user.id)
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as err:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=f'Failed to determine specified user ({usr})', err=err)
+        return final_users
+
+    def get_project(self, group_name, project_name):
+        return self.gitlab.projects.get(f'{group_name}/{project_name}')
+
+    def get_project_group(self, group_name):
+        return self.gitlab.groups.get(group_name)
+
+    def list_approval_rules(self):
+        return self.project.approvalrules.list()
+
+    def check_rule_exists(self, rule_name):
+        try:
+            return True, next(r for r in self.rules if r.name == rule_name)
+        except StopIteration:
+            return False, None
+
+    def _generated_data(self):
+        _name = str(self.rule_name)
+        _approvals_required = int(self.rule_apporvals_required)
+        _protected_branch_ids = list(self.rule_branches) if self.rule_branches is not None else []
+        _user_ids = list(self.rule_users) if self.rule_users is not None else []
+        _group_ids = list(self.rule_groups) if self.rule_groups is not None else []
+        _applies_to_all_protected_branches = bool(self.rule_all_protected_branches)
+        return {
+            "name": _name,
+            "approvals_required": _approvals_required,
+            "protected_branch_ids": _protected_branch_ids,
+            "user_ids": _user_ids,
+            "group_ids": _group_ids,
+            "applies_to_all_protected_branches": _applies_to_all_protected_branches
+        }
+
+    def create_approval_rule(self):
+        if self._module.check_mode:
+            return True
+        return self.project.approvalrules.create(
+            data = self._generated_data()
+        )
+
+    def update_approval_rule(self):
+        if self._module.check_mode:
+            return True
+        self.existing_rule.approvals_required = int(self.rule_apporvals_required)
+        self.existing_rule.protected_branch_ids = list(self.rule_branches) if self.rule_branches is not None else []
+        self.existing_rule.user_ids = list(self.rule_users) if self.rule_users is not None else []
+        self.existing_rule.group_ids = list(self.rule_groups) if self.rule_groups is not None else []
+        self.existing_rule.applies_to_all_protected_branches = bool(self.rule_all_protected_branches)
+        return self.existing_rule.save()
+
+    def _check_changed_members(self, updated_bool, new_members, previous_members) -> bool:
+        for m in new_members:
+            try:
+                if not any(pm.get('id') == m for pm in previous_members):
+                    updated_bool = True
+            except AttributeError:
+                if not any(pm == m['id'] for pm in previous_members):
+                    updated_bool = True
+        return updated_bool
+
+    def check_for_updates_to_existing_rule(self) -> bool:
+        updated = False
+        if self.existing_rule.applies_to_all_protected_branches != self.rule_all_protected_branches:
+            updated = True
+        if int(self.existing_rule.approvals_required) != int(self.rule_apporvals_required):
+            updated = True
+
+        # Check for changed / removed protected branches
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.rule_branches, self.existing_rule.protected_branches)
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.existing_rule.protected_branches, self.rule_branches)
+
+        # Check for changed /removed users
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.rule_users, self.existing_rule.users)
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.existing_rule.users, self.rule_users)
+
+        # Check for changed / removed groups
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.rule_groups, self.existing_rule.groups)
+        updated = self._check_changed_members(updated, self.existing_rule.groups, self.rule_groups)
+
+        return updated
+
+    def delete_approval_rule(self):
+        if self._module.check_mode:
+            return True
+        if self.rule_exists:
+            return self.existing_rule.delete()
+        return False
+
+class GitlabUser(object):
+    def __init__(self, module, gitlab_instance, user):
+        self._module = module
+        self.gitlab = gitlab_instance
+        self.given_user = user
+        self.id, self.name, self.full = self.get_id()
+
+    def get_id(self):
+        if isinstance(self.given_user, str) and not self.given_user.isdigit():
+            try:
+                found_user = self.gitlab.users.list(username=self.given_user)
+                num_found = len(found_user)
+                if num_found == 1:
+                    return found_user[0].id, found_user[0].username, found_user[0]
+                elif num_found > 1:
+                    self._module.fail_json(msg=f'More than one matching user found, unable to determine correct user ({self.given_user})', query_result=found_user)
+                else:
+                    self._module.fail_json(msg=f'User could not be found ({self.given_user})')
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                    self._module.fail_json(msg=f'User could not be found ({self.given_user})', err=gerr.error_message)
+
+        else:
+            if isinstance(self.given_user, int) or self.given_user.isdigit():
+                try:
+                    found_user = self.gitlab.users.get(self.given_user)
+                    return found_user.id, found_user.username, found_user
+                except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                        self._module.fail_json(msg=f'User could not be found ({self.given_user})', err=gerr.error_message)
+
+
+class GitlabGroup(object):
+    def __init__(self, module, gitlab_instance, group):
+        self._module = module
+        self.gitlab = gitlab_instance
+        self.given_group = group
+        self.full = self.get()
+        self.id = self.full.id
+        self.name = self.full.name
+        self.full_path = self.full.full_path
+        self.full_name = self.full.full_name
+        self.members = self.full.members.list(get_all=True)
+
+    def get(self):
+        if isinstance(self.given_group, int) or self.given_group.isdigit():
+            try:
+                return self.gitlab.groups.get(self.given_group)
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=f'Group could not be found ({self.given_group})', err=gerr.error_message)
+
+        else:
+            try:
+                found_groups = self.gitlab.groups.list(search=self.given_group)
+                num_groups = len(found_groups)
+                if num_groups == 1:
+                    return found_groups[0]
+                elif num_groups > 1:
+                    self._module.fail_json(msg=f'More than one matching group found, unable to determine correct group ({self.given_group})', query_result=found_groups)
+                else:
+                    self._module.fail_json(msg=f'Group could not be found ({self.given_group})')
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=f'Group could not be found ({self.given_group})', err=gerr.error_message)
+
+
+
+def run_module():
+    module_args = basic_auth_argument_spec()
+    module_args.update(auth_argument_spec())
+    module_args.update(
+        project_group=dict(type='str', required=True),
+        project_name=dict(type='str', required=True),
+        rule_name=dict(type='str', required=True),
+        approvals_required=dict(type='int', required=True),
+        usernames=dict(type='list', default=[], required=False),
+        user_ids=dict(type='list', default=[], required=False),
+        groups=dict(type='list', default=[], required=False),
+        protected_branch=dict(type='str', default=None, required=False),
+        applies_to_all_protected_branches=dict(type='bool', default=False, required=False),
+        state=dict(type='str', default="present", choices=["absent", "present"]),
+    )
+
+    module = AnsibleModule(
+        argument_spec=module_args,
+        mutually_exclusive=[
+            ['api_username', 'api_token'],
+            ['api_username', 'api_oauth_token'],
+            ['api_username', 'api_job_token'],
+            ['api_token', 'api_oauth_token'],
+            ['api_token', 'api_job_token'],
+        ],
+        required_together=[
+            ['api_username', 'api_password'],
+        ],
+        required_one_of=[
+            ['api_username', 'api_token', 'api_oauth_token', 'api_job_token']
+        ],
+        supports_check_mode=True
+    )
+
+    # check prerequisites and connect to gitlab server
+    gitlab_instance = gitlab_authentication(module)
+
+    gitlab_version = gitlab.__version__
+    if LooseVersion(gitlab_version) < LooseVersion('2.3.0'):
+        module.fail_json(msg="community.general.gitlab_proteched_branch requires python-gitlab Python module >= 2.3.0 (installed version: [%s])."
+                             " Please upgrade python-gitlab to version 2.3.0 or above." % gitlab_version)
+
+    gmmr = GitlabMergeRequestRule(
+        module = module,
+        gitlab_instance = gitlab_instance,
+        group = module.params['project_group'],
+        project = module.params['project_name'],
+        rule_name = module.params['rule_name'],
+        rule_approvals_required = module.params['approvals_required'],
+        rule_usernames = module.params['usernames'],
+        rule_user_ids = module.params['user_ids'],
+        rule_groups = module.params['groups'],
+        rule_branches = module.params['protected_branch'],
+        rule_all_protected_branches = module.params['applies_to_all_protected_branches']
+    )
+
+    if not gmmr.rule_exists:
+        if module.params['state'] == 'absent':
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=False, msg=f'Merge Request Rule ({module.params["rule_name"]}) does not exist in {module.params["project_name"]}, nothing to delete.'
+            )
+
+        elif module.params['state'] == 'present':
+            gmmr.create_approval_rule()
+            gmmr.rules = gmmr.list_approval_rules()
+            _, new_mmr = gmmr.check_rule_exists(gmmr.rule_name)
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True, msg=f'Merge Request Rule ({module.params["rule_name"]}) successfully created.',
+                mrr=new_mmr.asdict()
+            )
+
+    elif gmmr.rule_exists:
+        if module.params['state'] == 'absent':
+            gmmr.delete_approval_rule()
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True, msg=f'Merge Request Rule ({module.params["rule_name"]}) was deleted from {module.params["project_name"]}.'
+            )
+
+        elif module.params['state'] == 'present' and gmmr.rule_updated:
+            gmmr.update_approval_rule()
+            _, new_mmr = gmmr.check_rule_exists(gmmr.rule_name)
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True, msg=f'Merge Request Rule ({module.params["rule_name"]}) changes were found, updated rule.',
+                mrr=new_mmr.asdict()
+            )
+
+        else:
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=False, msg='No changes were detected.',
+                mrr=gmmr.existing_rule.asdict()
+            )
+
+
+def main():
+    run_module()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()