Article 33 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 33 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب الخامس: الحقوق والواجبات
The Article provides that the State establishes the armed forces and equips them to defend the faith, the Two Holy Mosques, society and the homeland.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تنشئ الدولة القوات المسلحة، وتجهزها من أجل الدفاع عن العقيدة، والحرمين الشريفين، والمجتمع، والوطن.
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 33 explained in plain English
This Article sets out two matters relating to the armed forces:
- Who establishes and equips them: the State is the one that establishes the armed forces and equips them.
- The purpose of equipping them: defending four things named in the text: the faith, the Two Holy Mosques, society and the homeland.
The Article thus ties the existence of the armed forces to a defensive purpose stated in the text. It does not address the organization of these forces, their branches, their command or the conditions for joining them; these matters are not mentioned in the text of the Article.
The Article is linked to Article 34, which 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 33 speaks of the State's duty to establish and equip the forces, while Article 34 speaks of the citizen's duty to defend.
The Article is consistent with Article 1, which defines the Kingdom as a sovereign Arab Islamic state whose religion is Islam, which explains why the faith and the Two Holy Mosques come first among the things the forces are equipped to defend.
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 33 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
What is the purpose of the armed forces in the Basic Law of Governance?
Article 33 provides that the State equips the armed forces to defend the faith, the Two Holy Mosques, society and the homeland.
Who establishes the armed forces?
Under Article 33, the State is the one that establishes the armed forces and equips them.
Does the Article set out the rules of military service?
No. It is Article 34 that states that the law sets out the rules of military service.
More articles on Defense and State of Emergency
- Article 34
The 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.
الدفاع عن العقيدة الإسلامية، والمجتمع ، والوطن واجب على كل مواطن، ويبين النظام أحكام الخدمة العسكرية.
- Article 60
The 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.
الملك هو القائد الأعلى لكافة القوات العسكرية ، وهو الذي يعين الضباط ، وينهي خدماتهم، وفقا للنظام.
- Article 61
The Article provides that the King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and that the law sets out the rules for that.
يعلن الملك حالة الطوارئ ، والتعبئة العامة ، والحرب ، ويبين النظام أحكام ذلك.
- Article 62
The 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.
للملك إذا نشأ خطر يهدد سلامة المملكة ، أو وحدة أراضيها، أو أمن شعبها ومصالحه، أو يعوق مؤسسات الدولة عن أداء مهامها، أن يتخذ من الإجراءات السريعة ما يكفل مواجهة
- Article 82
The 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.
مع عدم الإخلال بما ورد في المادة السابعة من هذا النظام، لا يجوز بأي حال من الأحوال تعطيل حكم من أحكام هذا النظام، إلا أن يكون ذلك مؤقتا في زمن الحرب، أو في أثنا
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.