Article 61 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 61 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعلن الملك حالة الطوارئ ، والتعبئة العامة ، والحرب ، ويبين النظام أحكام ذلك.
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 61 explained in plain English
This Article specifies the party that declares three exceptional situations, which are:
- A state of emergency;
- General mobilization;
- War.
The party competent to declare in all of them is the King. The Article then provides that the law sets out the rules for that, so it does not specify the conditions of the declaration, its duration, or its effects on individuals or bodies.
The Article is linked to Article 60, which 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. It is also linked to Article 62, which provides that if a danger arises that threatens the safety of the Kingdom, the integrity of its territory, or the security of its people and their interests, or impedes State institutions from performing their duties, the King may take the urgent measures needed to meet that danger, and if he sees that these measures should be continuing, he takes the necessary steps under the law.
Article 61 thus relates to the declaration of specific situations named in it, while Article 62 relates to urgent measures to meet danger in the cases it mentions.
The Article is of an organizational nature that sets the competence for declaring, and does not itself create detailed obligations on individuals; one refers in that to what the law sets out.
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 61 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Who declares a state of emergency in Saudi Arabia?
Article 61 provides that the King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war.
Does Article 61 set out the effects of declaring an emergency?
No. The Article provides that the law sets out the rules for that.
What is the difference between Article 61 and Article 62?
Article 61 concerns the declaration of an emergency, general mobilization and war, and Article 62 concerns the urgent measures the King takes when one of the dangers it mentions arises.
More articles on Defense and State of Emergency
- Article 33
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.
تنشئ الدولة القوات المسلحة، وتجهزها من أجل الدفاع عن العقيدة، والحرمين الشريفين، والمجتمع، والوطن.
- 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 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.