Article 62 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 62 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 هذا الخطر. وإذا رأى الملك أن يكون لهذه الإجراءات صفة الاستمرار فيتخذ بشأنها ما يلزم نظاما.
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 62 explained in plain English
This Article deals with exceptional situations in which a danger arises that cannot wait, and it gives the King the power to take the urgent measures needed to meet that danger.
The Article specifies the forms of danger that justify these measures, which is a danger that:
- Threatens the safety of the Kingdom;
- Or threatens the integrity of its territory;
- Or threatens the security of its people and their interests;
- Or impedes State institutions from performing their duties.
The rule for these measures is that they are urgent and tied to meeting the danger. But if the King sees that these measures should have a continuing character, the Article provides that he takes the necessary steps under the law; that is, their continuation requires a legal instrument, and the Article does not specify that instrument or the duration of the measures.
The Article is linked to Article 61, which provides that the King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and that the law sets out the rules for that. Article 61 relates to the declaration of specific situations, while Article 62 relates to urgent measures when one of the dangers it mentions arises.
The Article does not state the type or details of the measures, and does not itself create detailed rights or obligations for individuals. Anyone with a question about the effect of a particular measure on them would be well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in constitutional and administrative law.
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 62 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Who has the power to take urgent measures in times of danger in Saudi Arabia?
Article 62 provides that this belongs to the King 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.
Do the urgent measures continue without limit?
As the Article provides, if the King sees that these measures should be continuing, he takes the necessary steps under the law.
What is the difference between Article 62 and Article 61?
Article 61 concerns the declaration of a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and Article 62 concerns urgent measures to meet the danger it mentions.
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 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 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.