Article 1 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 1 من نظام الغرف التجارية
The first article sets the meanings of the key terms in the Chambers of Commerce Law, such as the Chamber, the Ministry, the member, the subscriber, the Federation of Chambers and commercial activities.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالكلمات والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق غير ذلك:
النظام: نظام الغرف التجارية.
اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية للنظام.
الوزارة: وزارة التجارة.
الوزير: وزير التجارة.
الغرفة: الغرفة التجارية.
رئيس الغرفة: رئيس مجلس إدارة الغرفة.
العضو: عضو مجلس إدارة الغرفة.
اتحاد الغرف: اتحاد الغرف التجارية السعودية.
رئيس اتحاد الغرف: رئيس مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف.
الأنشطة التجارية: الأعمال التجارية المنصوص عليها في الأنظمة ذات العلاقة.
المشترك: كل من له اشتراك سارٍ في الغرفة.
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 1 explained in plain English
This article is the law's "dictionary": it explains what is meant by the words that recur in its articles, so they are understood the same way wherever they appear, unless the context requires another meaning.
- The Law and the Implementing Regulations: The Law is the Chambers of Commerce Law, and the Implementing Regulations are its Implementing Regulations.
- The Ministry and the Minister: The Ministry of Commerce and the Minister of Commerce.
- The Chamber and its president: The Chamber is the chamber of commerce, and the president of the Chamber is the chair of its board of directors.
- The member: Specifically, a member of the Chamber's board of directors.
- The Federation of Chambers and its president: The Federation of Saudi Chambers, whose president is the chair of the Federation's board of directors.
- Commercial activities: Commercial business provided for in the relevant laws; the law does not list them itself but refers to those laws.
- The subscriber: Anyone who has a valid subscription in the Chamber.
The most important thing to note is the distinction between "member" and "subscriber": the subscriber is the holder of a valid subscription in the Chamber, while the member is someone who holds a seat on its board of directors. The description "subscriber" is also tied in the definition to the subscription being valid. Article 2 then explains the nature of the Chamber as a non-profit entity aiming to develop, represent, protect and improve commercial activities.
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 1 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
What is the difference between a member and a subscriber in a chamber of commerce?
In this law, a member is a member of the Chamber's board of directors, while a subscriber is anyone with a valid subscription in the Chamber.
Who is the Minister meant in the Chambers of Commerce Law?
The Minister of Commerce, and the Ministry is the Ministry of Commerce.
Does the Chambers of Commerce Law specify what commercial activities are?
It does not list them itself, but defines them as the commercial business provided for in the relevant laws.
More articles on Establishing and Supervising a Chamber of Commerce
- Article 2
The second article provides that the chamber of commerce is a non-profit entity aiming to develop, represent, protect and improve commercial activities within a specified geographic scope.
الغرفة كيان غير ربحي، يستهدف تنمية شتَّى الأنشطة التجارية على مستوى القطاعات التجارية، وتمثيلها لدى الوزارات والهيئات والمؤسسات العامة، والعمل على حمايتها وتطوي
- Article 3
The third article regulates establishing a chamber of commerce by decision of the Minister, with one chamber per administrative region, and the Chamber's right to set up branches and sub-offices.
1- تُنشأ الغرفة -بقرار من الوزير- ويكون في كل منطقة إدارية غرفة واحدة، ويُحدد القرار مقر الغرفة ونطاق اختصاصها المكاني. وللوزير -بناءً على معايير تصدر بقرار منه
- Article 4
The fourth article gives the Chamber legal personality and financial and administrative independence under the Ministry's supervision, allows it to own property, and bars it from engaging in commercial activities.
1- تتمتع الغرفة بالشخصية الاعتبارية والاستقلال المالي والإداري، وتعمل تحت إشراف الوزارة، ويمثلها رئيس مجلس إدارتها أمام القضاء والغير، وله تفويض من يراه في هذا
- Article 61
Article 61 subjects the staff of the chambers of commerce and the Federation of Chambers to the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law.
يخضع منسوبو الغرف واتحاد الغرف لأحكام نظام العمل ونظام التأمينات الاجتماعية.
- Article 62
In cases he sees fit, the Minister may appoint a representative to a chamber or the Federation to follow the implementation of laws; the representative attends meetings and sees minutes and accounts without a vote.
يجوز للوزير -في حالات يراها- أن يعين لدى الغرفة أو اتحاد الغرف مندوبًا تكون مهمته متابعة تنفيذ الأنظمة والقرارات ويكون له حق حضور اجتماعات الجمعية العمومية، واج
- Article 63
The Minister of Commerce or his or her delegate supervises the application of the provisions of the Chambers of Commerce Law.
يتولى الوزير أو من يفوضه الإشراف على تطبيق أحكام النظام.
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.