diff --git a/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py b/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6512451859a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/modules/gitlab_merge_request_rule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,565 @@
+#!/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 (!UNKNOWN) [liebhaber_sgl@gwto.me]
+requirements:
+  - python-gitlab >= 2.6.0
+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.
+    required: true
+    type: str
+  approvals_required:
+    description:
+      - The number of approvals required before the rule passes to allow a merge.
+    required: true
+    type: int
+  usernames:
+    description:
+      - List of usernames of who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+    elements: str
+  user_ids:
+    description:
+      - List of user_ids of who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+    elements: int
+  groups:
+    description:
+      - List of group ids of members who can approve merge requests for this rule.
+    type: list
+    elements: int
+  protected_branch:
+    description:
+      - A protected branch name or branch id for this rule to apply 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:
+        - 743  # developers group
+"""
+
+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 = rule_name
+        self.rule_groups = (
+            self.build_groups(self._string_to_set(rule_groups))
+            if rule_groups is not None
+            else []
+        )
+        self.rule_usernames = (
+            self._string_to_set(rule_usernames) if rule_usernames is not None else []
+        )
+        self.rule_user_ids = (
+            self._string_to_set(rule_user_ids) if rule_user_ids is not None else []
+        )
+        self.rule_users = self.build_users()
+        self.rule_apporvals_required = rule_approvals_required
+        self.rule_branches = (
+            self._gather_ids_for_protected_branches(rule_branches)
+            if rule_branches is not None
+            else []
+        )
+        self.rule_all_protected_branches = 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 = 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.GitlabError as gerr:
+                    self._module.log(
+                        msg="Failed to find protected branch id for branch ({})".format(
+                            b
+                        ),
+                        err=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="Failed to determine specified group ({})".format(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="Failed to determine specified user ({})".format(usr), err=err
+                )
+        return final_users
+
+    def get_project(self, group_name, project_name):
+        return self.gitlab.projects.get("{}/{}".format(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):
+        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):
+        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="More than one matching user found, unable to determine correct user ({})".format(
+                            self.given_user
+                        ),
+                        query_result=found_user,
+                    )
+                else:
+                    self._module.fail_json(
+                        msg="User could not be found ({})".format(self.given_user)
+                    )
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                self._module.fail_json(
+                    msg="User could not be found ({})".format(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="User could not be found ({})".format(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="Group could not be found ({})".format(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="More than one matching group found, unable to determine correct group ({})".format(
+                            self.given_group
+                        ),
+                        query_result=found_groups,
+                    )
+                else:
+                    self._module.fail_json(
+                        msg="Group could not be found ({})".format(self.given_group)
+                    )
+            except gitlab.GitlabError as gerr:
+                self._module.fail_json(
+                    msg="Group could not be found ({})".format(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", elements="str", default=None, required=False),
+        user_ids=dict(type="list", elements="int", default=None, required=False),
+        groups=dict(type="list", elements="int", default=None, 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("2.6.0"):
+        module.fail_json(
+            msg="community.general.gitlab_proteched_branch requires python-gitlab Python module >= 2.6.0 (installed version: [%s])."
+            " Please upgrade python-gitlab to version 2.6.0 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="Merge Request Rule ({}) does not exist for {}, no changes made.".format(
+                    module.params["rule_name"], module.params["project_name"]
+                ),
+            )
+
+        elif module.params["state"] == "present":
+            gmmr.create_approval_rule()
+            gmmr.rules = gmmr.list_approval_rules()
+            gmmr.rule_exists, new_mmr = gmmr.check_rule_exists(gmmr.rule_name)
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True,
+                msg="Merge Request Rule ({}) has been successfully created.".format(
+                    module.params["rule_name"]
+                ),
+                merge_request_rule=new_mmr.asdict(),
+            )
+
+    elif gmmr.rule_exists:
+        if module.params["state"] == "absent":
+            gmmr.delete_approval_rule()
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True,
+                msg="Merge Request Rule ({}) has been removed from {}.".format(
+                    module.params["rule_name"], module.params["project_name"]
+                ),
+            )
+
+        elif module.params["state"] == "present" and gmmr.rule_updated:
+            gmmr.update_approval_rule()
+            gmmr.rule_exists, new_mmr = gmmr.check_rule_exists(gmmr.rule_name)
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=True,
+                msg="Merge Request Rule ({}) changes were found, rule has been updated.".format(
+                    module.params["rule_name"]
+                ),
+                merge_request_rule=new_mmr.asdict(),
+            )
+
+        else:
+            module.exit_json(
+                changed=False,
+                msg="No changes were detected.",
+                merge_request_rule=gmmr.existing_rule.asdict(),
+            )
+
+
+def main():
+    run_module()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()