Article 5 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 5 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب الثاني: نظام الحكم
The 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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
أ - نظام الحكم في المملكة العربية السعودية، ملكي.
ب - يكون الحكم في أبناء الملك المؤسس عبدالعزيز بن عبدالرحمن الفيصل آل سعود وأبناء الأبناء، ويبايع الأصلح منهم للحكم على كتاب الله تعالى وسنة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم. ولا يكون من بعد أبناء الملك المؤسس ملكاً وولياً للعهد من فرع واحد من ذرية الملك المؤسس.
جـ - تتم الدعوة لمبايعة الملك واختيار ولي العهد وفقا لنظام هيئة البيعة.
د - يكون ولي العهد متفرغا لولاية العهد، وما يكلفه به الملك من أعمال.
هـ - يتولى ولي العهد سلطات الملك عند وفاته حتى تتم البيعة.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article lays down the basic rules of the system of government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and consists of five paragraphs:
- The form of government: The system of government in the Kingdom is monarchy.
- Who may rule: Rule is in the sons of the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal Al Saud and the sons of the sons, and the most upright of them is given the pledge of allegiance to rule according to the Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him. The paragraph adds a restriction: after the sons of the founding King, the King and the Crown Prince may not be from one branch of the descendants of the founding King.
- The pledge of allegiance and choosing the Crown Prince: The call to pledge allegiance to the King and the choosing of the Crown Prince take place in accordance with the Allegiance Commission Law, so the procedural details are found in that law.
- The Crown Prince's full-time role: The Crown Prince is dedicated to the position of Crown Prince and to the work the King assigns him.
- Temporary transfer of powers: The Crown Prince assumes the King's powers upon his death until the pledge of allegiance is completed.
Amendments: Paragraph (c) was amended by Royal Order No. (A/135) dated 26/9/1427 AH to link the pledge of allegiance and the choosing of the Crown Prince to the Allegiance Commission Law. Paragraph (b) was then amended by Royal Order No. (A/256) dated 26/9/1438 AH to take its present text, which includes the restriction that the King and the Crown Prince not be from one branch after the sons of the founding King.
The article is consistent with Article 6, which provides that citizens pledge allegiance to the King according to the Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and to hear and obey in hardship and ease, in what they like and dislike.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 5 of Basic Law of Governance?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Ask a specialist lawyer about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Frequently asked questions about Article 5 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
What is the system of government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
The article provides that the system of government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is monarchy.
How is the Crown Prince chosen in Saudi Arabia?
The call to pledge allegiance to the King and the choosing of the Crown Prince take place in accordance with the Allegiance Commission Law, under paragraph (c) of the article.
Who assumes the King's powers upon his death?
The Crown Prince assumes the King's powers upon his death until the pledge of allegiance is completed.
May the King and the Crown Prince be from one branch?
Paragraph (b) provides that after the sons of the founding King, the King and the Crown Prince may not be from one branch of the descendants of the founding King.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. A/135 — 26/9/1427 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدلت الفقرة ( جـ ) من هذه المادة بموجب الأمر الملكى رقم (أ/135) وتاريخ 26 / 9 / 1427 هـ ، لتكون بالنص الآتى :
( جـ - تتم الدعوة لمبايعة الملك واختيار ولي العهد وفقا لنظام هيئة البيعة.)
Royal Decree No. A/256 — 26/9/1438 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عدلت الفقرة ( ب ) من هذه المادة وذلك بموجب الأمر الملكي رقم ( أ/256 ) وتاريخ 1438/9/26هـ , لتكون بالنص الأتي : "يكون الحكم في أبناء الملك المؤسس عبدالعزيز بن عبدالرحمن الفيصل آل سعود وأبناء الأبناء، ويبايع الأصلح منهم للحكم على كتاب الله تعالى وسنة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم. ولا يكون من بعد أبناء الملك المؤسس ملكاً وولياً للعهد من فرع واحد من ذرية الملك المؤسس."
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
أ - نظام الحكم في المملكة العربية السعودية، ملكي.
ب - يكون الحكم في أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل سعود و أبناء الأبناء، ويبايع الأصلح منهم للحكم على كتاب الله تعالى وسنة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم.
جـ - يختار الملك ولي العهد، ويعفيه بأمر ملكي.
د - يكون ولي العهد متفرغا لولاية العهد، وما يكلفه به الملك من أعمال.
هـ - يتولى ولي العهد سلطات الملك عند وفاته حتى تتم البيعة.
More articles on System of Government, Allegiance and Crown Prince
- Article 6
The 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.
يبايع المواطنون الملك على كتاب الله تعالى، وسنة رسوله، وعلى السمع والطاعة في العسر واليسر والمنشط والمكره.
- Article 65
The Article permits the King to delegate some of his powers to the Crown Prince, provided that the delegation is by royal order.
للملك تفويض بعض الصلاحيات لولي العهد بأمر ملكي .
- Article 66
The 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.
يصدر الملك في حالة سفره إلى خارج المملكة أمرا ملكيا بإنابة ولي العهد في إدارة شئون الدولة، ورعاية مصالح الشعب، وذلك على الوجه المبين بالأمر الملكي .
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.