Article 82 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 82 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب التاسع: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 أثناء إعلان حالة الطوارئ . وعلى الوجه المبين بالنظام.
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 82 explained in plain English
This article provides a safeguard for the stability of the Basic Law of Governance: the general rule is that no provision of it may be suspended under any circumstances.
This rule is subject to a specific exception, which has several conditions that must all be met:
- the suspension must be temporary, not permanent;
- it must occur in wartime or while a state of emergency is declared;
- and it must be in the manner set out in the Law.
So the existence of a war or the declaration of an emergency is not enough by itself; the suspension must also be temporary and follow what the Law provides. The article does not specify how long a suspension may last or which provisions may be suspended.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to what is stated in Article 7". Article 7 provides that governance in the Kingdom derives its authority from the Book of God Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, which are the ultimate authority over this Law and all the laws of the State. So Article 82, including its exception, does not affect the supremacy of the Book and the Sunnah over the Basic Law and all laws.
The article is connected to Article 83, which provides that this Law may be amended only in the same way in which it was issued; Article 82 concerns suspension, while Article 83 concerns amendment.
Anyone with a question about the effect of an exceptional situation on their rights would be well advised to consult a lawyer specializing 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 82 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
Can the Basic Law of Governance be suspended?
Article 82 provides that no provision of it may be suspended under any circumstances, except temporarily in wartime or while a state of emergency is declared, in the manner set out in the Law.
Can provisions of the Basic Law be suspended permanently?
No. The article requires the suspension to be temporary.
How does Article 82 relate to Article 7?
Article 82 is without prejudice to what is stated in Article 7, which makes the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger the ultimate authority over this Law and all the laws of the State.
Articles this article refers to
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 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
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.