Article 18 of the Saudi Bar Association Statute
المادة 18 من تنظيم الهيئة السعودية للمحامين
The article requires the Association to deposit its cash in its own name at a local bank, withdrawable only by a cheque signed by the board chairman or his delegate and the Secretary General, and not to spend its funds beyond its purposes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تودع الهيئة أموالها النقدية باسمها لدى أحد البنوك المحلية، ولا يجوز سحب أي مبلغ إلا بشيك يوقعه رئيس مجلس الإدارة - أو من يفوضه من أعضاء المجلس - والأمين العام.
ولا يجوز للهيئة أن تنفق أموالها في غير الأغراض التي أنشئت من أجلها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This article sets controls to protect the Association's funds:
- Deposit: the Association deposits its cash funds in its own name at a local bank, so they are not deposited in anyone's name.
- Withdrawal: no amount may be withdrawn except by cheque signed by two parties together:
- The chairman of the board of directors, or the board member he delegates.
- And the Secretary General.
- Spending: the Association may not spend its funds on anything other than the purposes for which it was established.
Requiring a double signature is an oversight safeguard, so that no single person acts alone with the Association's funds. Note that whoever the chairman delegates must be a member of the board.
The spending restriction ties the Association's funds to the purposes for which it was established, so they may not be spent otherwise even if their source is a gift or donation. The article is linked to Article 17, which lists the Association's resources, since all these cash resources are subject to the controls on deposit, withdrawal and spending.
These controls are complemented by Article 19, which requires an auditor appointed by the general assembly, who inspects the books and documents and submits a report to it on the accounts.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Bar Association Statute
Where are the Bar Association's funds deposited?
In its own name at a local bank.
How are amounts withdrawn from the Association's funds?
By a cheque signed by the chairman of the board of directors or the board member he delegates, and the Secretary General.
May the Association spend its funds on any purpose?
No. It may not spend them on anything other than the purposes for which the Association was established.
More articles on General Secretariat and Authority Resources
- Article 15
The article provides that the board appoints a Secretary General and one or more assistant secretaries who work full time, lets the Secretary General appoint staff within the budget, and gives him the powers to certify regular members' signatures and prepare the draft budget.
يكون للهيئة أمين عام، وأمين مساعد واحد أو أكثر، يعينهم المجلس، ويحدد واجباتهم ومسؤولياتهم، ويتعين عليهم التفرغ للعمل بالهيئة. وللأمين العام تعيين عدد كافٍ من ال
- Article 16
The article makes the Association's financial year the State's financial year, with the first year, as an exception, starting from the date the Statute takes effect and ending at the end of the following financial year.
السنة المالية للهيئة هي السنة المالية للدولة، واستثناء من ذلك، تبدأ السنة المالية الأولى للهيئة من تاريخ نفاذ هذا التنظيم، وتنتهي بنهاية السنة المالية التالية.
- Article 17
The article lists the Association's resources: membership fees and fees for services, government subsidies if any, gifts, bequests and endowments the board accepts, investment returns, and other resources the board approves.
تتكون موارد الهيئة من الآتي: 1 - رسوم العضوية والمقابل المالي لما تقدمه من خدمات. 2 - الإعانات الحكومية إن وجدت. 3 - الهبات والتبرعات والوصايا والأوقاف التي يقب
- Article 19
The article requires the Association to have an auditor appointed by the general assembly from licensed chartered accountants, with fees set by the assembly, who inspects the books and documents and reports on the accounts to the assembly.
يكون للهيئة مراجع حسابات تعينه الجمعية العمومية من بين المحاسبين القانونيين المرخص لهم بالعمل في المملكة، وتحدد الجمعية أتعابه، ويكون له حق الاطلاع على الدفاتر
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.