In force Last amended 26/9/1438 AH
Saudi Basic Law of Governance
النظام الأساسي للحكم
The Basic Law of Governance covers general principles, the system of government, the foundations of Saudi society, economic principles, rights and duties, the authorities of the state, financial affairs, and general provisions.
- Articles
- 83
- In force
- 83
- Amended
- 1
- Issued
- 27/8/1412 AH
Issued by: أمر ملكي رقم أ/90 بتاريخ 27 / 8 / 1412
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Basic Law of Governance by topic
Identity and Symbols of the State5 articlesSystem of Government, Allegiance and Crown Prince4 articlesSharia as the Source of Governance and Laws9 articlesFamily, Society and Education7 articlesEconomic Principles and Public Wealth8 articlesProtection of Private Property and Expropriation3 articlesHuman Rights and Social Care6 articlesPersonal Freedoms and Guarantees7 articlesThe Two Holy Mosques and Foreign Relations5 articlesDefense and State of Emergency6 articlesJudicial Authority and Judicial Independence10 articlesThe King and the Council of Ministers13 articlesShura Council and Issuing Laws7 articlesState Budget and Financial Oversight9 articles
Articles of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
الباب الأول: المبادئ العامةArticles 1–4
- Article 1The article defines the Kingdom's identity: a fully sovereign Arab Islamic state, whose religion is Islam, whose constitution is the Book and the Sunnah, whose language is Arabic and whose capital is Riyadh.
- Article 2The article provides that the state's two feasts are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and that the state's calendar is the Hijri calendar.
- Article 3The article sets the descriptions of the state flag: green, its width two-thirds of its length, with the Shahada in the center and a drawn sword beneath it, never lowered, with the Law setting its rules.
- Article 4The article sets the state emblem as two crossed swords with a palm tree in the space above them, and refers to the Law to set the state's anthem and decorations.
الباب الثاني: نظام الحكمArticles 5–8
- Article 5The article provides that the system of government in the Kingdom is monarchy, and sets who may rule, how the pledge of allegiance is made, how the Crown Prince is chosen, and his duties.Amended A/256
- Article 6The article provides that citizens pledge allegiance to the King according to the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and to hear and obey in hardship and ease, in what they like and dislike.
- Article 7The article provides that rule in the Kingdom derives its authority from the Book and the Sunnah, and that they govern the Basic Law and all the laws of the state.
- Article 8The article provides that rule in the Kingdom is based on justice, shura and equality, according to Islamic Sharia.
الباب الثالث: مقومات المجتمع السعوديArticles 9–13
- Article 9The article provides that the family is the nucleus of Saudi society, and its members are raised on the Islamic faith and what it requires of loyalty, obedience, respect for the law and love of the homeland.
- Article 10The article provides that the state is keen to strengthen family ties, preserve the family's Arab and Islamic values, care for its members, and provide conditions for developing their abilities.
- Article 11The article provides that Saudi society is based on its members holding fast to the rope of God, cooperating in righteousness and piety, supporting one another, and not dividing.
- Article 12The article provides that strengthening national unity is a duty, and that the state prevents everything that leads to disunity, sedition and division.
- Article 13The article sets the aims of education: instilling the Islamic faith in the young, giving them knowledge and skills, and preparing them to be useful members who love their homeland and are proud of its history.
الباب الرابع: المبادئ الاقتصاديةArticles 14–22
- Article 14The article provides that all wealth beneath the earth and on its surface, in territorial waters, and in the land and maritime domain of the state belongs to the state, as the Law sets out.
- Article 15The article provides that no concession or exploitation of any of the country's public resources may be granted except under a law.
- Article 16The article provides that public funds are inviolable, that the state must protect them, and that citizens and residents must preserve them.
- Article 17The article provides that ownership, capital and work are basic components of the Kingdom's economic and social entity, and are private rights that perform a social function according to Sharia.
- Article 18The article provides that the state guarantees the freedom and inviolability of private ownership, and no one's property is expropriated except for the public interest, with fair compensation to the owner.
- Article 19The article prohibits general confiscation of funds, and provides that the penalty of special confiscation may be imposed only by a judicial judgment.
- Article 20The article provides that taxes and fees are imposed only when needed and on the basis of justice, and may be imposed, amended, abolished or exempted only under the Law.
- Article 21The Article provides that zakat is collected and spent on its lawful (Sharia) recipients.
- Article 22The Article provides that economic and social development is achieved according to a fair, scientific plan.
الباب الخامس: الحقوق والواجباتArticles 23–43
- Article 23The Article provides that the State protects the Islamic faith, applies its Sharia, commands what is right and forbids what is wrong, and carries out the duty of calling to God.
- Article 24The Article provides that the State builds and serves the Two Holy Mosques and provides security and care for those who visit them, so they can perform Hajj, Umrah and the visit with ease and peace of mind.
- Article 25The Article provides that the State is keen to realize the hopes of the Arab and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word, and to strengthen its relations with friendly states.
- Article 26The Article provides that the State protects human rights in accordance with Islamic Sharia.
- Article 27The Article provides that the State guarantees the right of the citizen and his family in emergencies, illness, disability and old age, supports the social security system, and encourages contributions to charitable works.
- Article 28The Article provides that the State facilitates work opportunities for everyone able to work and enacts laws that protect the worker and the employer.
- Article 29The Article provides that the State cares for sciences, arts and culture, encourages scientific research, preserves the Islamic and Arab heritage, and contributes to Arab, Islamic and human civilization.
- Article 30The Article provides that the State provides general education and is committed to eradicating illiteracy.
- Article 31The Article provides that the State attends to public health and provides health care for every citizen.
- Article 32The Article obliges the State to work to preserve, protect and develop the environment and prevent pollution of it.
- Article 33The Article provides that the State establishes the armed forces and equips them to defend the faith, the Two Holy Mosques, society and the homeland.
- Article 34The Article makes defending the Islamic faith, society and the homeland a duty of every citizen, and refers the rules of military service to the law.
- Article 35The Article refers the rules of Saudi Arabian nationality to the law.
- Article 36The Article obliges the State to provide security for citizens and residents, and prohibits restricting anyone's actions, or detaining or imprisoning anyone, except under the provisions of the law.
- Article 37The Article establishes the sanctity of homes: they may not be entered without the owner's permission or searched except in the cases set out by the law.
- Article 38The Article provides that punishment is personal, that there is no crime or punishment except under a provision of Sharia or of the law, and that there is no punishment except for acts committed after the legal provision took effect.
- Article 39The Article requires the media, publishing and all means of expression to use good words and comply with the State's laws, and prohibits what leads to sedition or division or harms State security or human dignity.
- Article 40The Article protects correspondence, calls and means of communication: they may not be confiscated, delayed, viewed or listened to except in the cases set out by the law.
- Article 41The Article requires residents of the Kingdom to comply with its laws and to observe the values of Saudi society and respect its traditions and feelings.
- Article 42The Article provides that the State grants the right of political asylum when the public interest requires, and that the laws and international agreements set the rules for extradition of ordinary criminals.
- Article 43The Article provides that the King's majlis and the Crown Prince's majlis are open to every citizen and to anyone with a complaint or grievance, and that every individual has the right to address the public authorities.
الباب السادس: سلطات الدولةArticles 44–71
- Article 44The Article sets out the State's three authorities, the judicial, executive and regulatory, provides that they cooperate in accordance with the laws, and states that the King is their reference.
- Article 45The Article provides that the source of fatwa in the Kingdom is the Book and the Sunnah, and refers the organization and powers of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Department of Scientific Research and Fatwa to the law.
- Article 46The Article provides that the judiciary is an independent authority and that there is no authority over judges in their judgments other than the authority of Islamic Sharia.
- Article 47The Article guarantees the right of litigation equally to citizens and residents of the Kingdom, and refers its procedures to the law.
- Article 48The Article requires the courts to apply the rules of Islamic Sharia in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and the laws issued by the ruler that do not conflict with them.
- Article 49The Article makes the courts competent to decide all disputes and crimes, subject to Article 53 on the Board of Grievances.
- Article 50The Article provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
- Article 51The Article refers to the law the composition and powers of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the organization and powers of the courts.
- Article 52The Article provides that judges are appointed and their service ended by royal order upon the proposal of the Supreme Judicial Council, as the law sets out.
- Article 53The Article refers to the law the organization of the Board of Grievances and its powers.
- Article 54The Article refers to the law the affiliation of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution and its organization and powers.
- Article 55The Article provides that the King runs the affairs of the nation in accordance with Sharia policy based on the rules of Islam, and supervises the application of Sharia, the laws and the general policy, and the protection and defense of the country.
- Article 56The Article provides that the King is the head of the Council of Ministers, assisted by its members, and refers to the Council of Ministers Law the Council's powers and matters concerning ministers.
- Article 57The Article provides that the King appoints and relieves the deputy prime ministers and ministers by royal order, that they are jointly responsible before him, and that he may dissolve the Council of Ministers and reconstitute it.
- Article 58The Article provides that the King appoints and relieves by royal order those of ministerial rank, deputy ministers and those of excellent grade, and that ministers and heads of independent agencies are responsible before the Prime Minister.
- Article 59The Article refers to the law the rules of the civil service, including salaries, bonuses, compensation, benefits and pensions.
- Article 60The Article provides that the King is the Supreme Commander of all military forces and is the one who appoints officers and ends their service in accordance with the law.
- Article 61The Article provides that the King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and that the law sets out the rules for that.
- Article 62The Article gives the King the power to take urgent measures to meet any danger that threatens the safety of the Kingdom, the integrity of its territory, the security of its people, or the work of State institutions.
- Article 63The Article provides that the King receives kings and presidents of states, appoints his representatives to states, and accepts the accreditation of states' representatives to him.
- Article 64The Article provides that the King confers decorations, and that this is done in the manner set out by the law.
- Article 65The Article permits the King to delegate some of his powers to the Crown Prince, provided that the delegation is by royal order.
- Article 66The Article provides that when the King travels outside the Kingdom, he issues a royal order deputizing the Crown Prince to run the affairs of the State and look after the interests of the people.
- Article 67The Article defines the regulatory authority's competence to make laws and regulations that serve the public interest or remove harm in State affairs, in accordance with the rules of Islamic Sharia.
- Article 68The Article provides for establishing a Shura Council whose law sets out its composition, powers and selection of members, and gives the King the power to dissolve it and reconstitute it.
- Article 69The Article permits the King to call the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers to a joint meeting, and to invite whomever he sees fit to attend it to discuss what he sees fit.
- Article 70The Article provides that laws, treaties, international agreements and concessions are issued and amended by royal decrees.
- Article 71The Article requires laws to be published in the Official Gazette and makes them effective from the date of publication unless another date is specified.
الباب السابع: الشئون الماليةArticles 72–78
- Article 72The Article refers to the law the rules on State revenues and their delivery to the general State treasury, and requires revenues to be recorded and spent according to the procedures set by law.
- Article 73The Article prohibits undertaking any payment from the general treasury except under the budget, and if its items do not accommodate it, it must be by royal decree.
- Article 74The Article prohibits selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of State property except under the law.
- Article 75The Article provides that the laws set out the rules on currency, banks, standards, measures and weights.
- Article 76The Article regulates the issuance of the general budget by royal decree at least one month before the fiscal year begins, and following the previous year's budget if it is delayed for compelling reasons.
- Article 77The Article provides that the competent body prepares the State's final accounts for the past fiscal year and submits them to the head of the Council of Ministers.
- Article 78The Article makes the budgets of bodies with public legal personality and their final accounts subject to the same provisions that apply to the State's budget and final accounts.
الباب الثامن: أجهزة الرقابةArticles 79–80
- Article 79The Article requires post-audit oversight of State revenues and expenditures and all State property, and an annual report to the head of the Council of Ministers, and refers the oversight body to the law.
- Article 80The Article requires monitoring of government bodies and ensuring their good performance and application of the laws, investigating financial and administrative violations, and submitting an annual report to the head of the Council of Ministers.
الباب التاسع: أحكام عامةArticles 81–83
- Article 81The article states that applying the Basic Law of Governance does not affect the treaties and agreements Saudi Arabia has entered into with states, bodies and international organizations.
- Article 82The article prohibits suspending any provision of the Basic Law of Governance except temporarily in wartime or while a state of emergency is declared, in the manner set out in the Law, without prejudice to Article 7.
- Article 83The article provides that the Basic Law of Governance may be amended only in the same way in which it was issued.
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