Article 11 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 11 من نظام الغرف التجارية · الفصل الثاني: الأجهزة الإدارية للغرفة
The eleventh article sets the board's term at four years and its size at no more than 18 members, allows extending the board when elections are late, and lets the Minister appoint a third.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُشكّل مجلس إدارة الغرفة كل (أربع) سنوات من عدد من الأعضاء يُحدد بقرار من الوزير، على ألا يزيد عددهم على (ثمانية عشر) عضواً.
2- يجوز للوزير في حال انتهاء دورة مجلس الإدارة دون إجراء الانتخابات أو استكمالها وتعيين مجلس إدارة جديد، إصدار قرار بالتمديد لأعضاء مجلس الإدارة المنتهية دورته لفترة (مائة وثمانين) يوماً قابلة للتمديد لفترة مماثلة مرة واحدة.
3- يعين الوزير ثلث أعضاء مجلس إدارة الغرفة، ما لم يُحدد نسبة أعلى بحسب ما تقضي به الفقرة (1) من المادة (التاسعة) من النظام.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article regulates forming the Chamber's board of directors from three angles:
1. Term and number of members
- The board is formed every four years.
- The number of its members is set by decision of the Minister, and may not exceed 18 members.
2. Extension when forming the new board is delayed
- If the board's term ends without the elections being held or completed and a new board appointed, the Minister may issue a decision extending the work of the members of the board whose term has ended.
- The extension is 180 days, renewable for a similar period once only.
3. Appointed members
- The Minister appoints a third of the board's members.
- The appointed proportion may be higher if it is set in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 9.
Article 9 clarifies this link: the general assembly elects two thirds of the board's members, and the Minister may approve electing half of them in cases he assesses. If only half are elected, the proportion of appointees rises accordingly. The two provisions therefore complement each other: two thirds by election and one third by appointment as the starting point, with the proportion adjustable by the Minister's decision.
Article 12 then refers the procedures for nomination and election to the Implementing Regulations and provides that the Minister issues a decision approving the election results.
Practical example
The term of one chamber's board of directors ended after four years, but the elections were not completed on time because of objections. In this case the Minister may extend the current board's work for 180 days, then for another 180 days once if necessary, until the new board is formed.
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 11 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
How long is the term of a chamber of commerce board of directors?
The Chamber's board of directors is formed every four years.
What is the maximum number of members on a chamber's board?
The Minister sets the number by his decision, and it may not exceed 18 members.
How many members does the Minister of Commerce appoint?
The Minister appoints a third of the members, unless a higher proportion is set in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 9.
What happens if chamber of commerce elections are late?
The Minister may extend the work of the board whose term has ended for 180 days, renewable for a similar period once.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Chamber Board Elections
- Article 9
The ninth article sets the powers of the Chamber's general assembly, including electing two thirds of the board members and approving the annual report, budget, final account and internal regulations.
تختص الجمعية العمومية للغرفة بما يأتي: 1- انتخاب ثلثي أعضاء مجلس الإدارة، ويجوز للوزير الموافقة على انتخاب نصف أعضاء مجلس الإدارة في حالات يُقدرها. 2- مناقشة ال
- Article 12
The twelfth article refers board election procedures to the Implementing Regulations, bars electing more than one member from a single establishment, removes any financial pay for a member, and limits candidacy to two consecutive terms.
1- تُحدد اللائحة إجراءات الترشح والانتخاب بما في ذلك ضوابط الانتخاب الفردي وانتخاب المجموعات، وإجراءات الاقتراع والاعتراض والطعن، وتشكيل لجان الإشراف على الانتخ
- Article 13
The thirteenth article provides that candidates win by acclamation if they do not exceed the elected seats, and lets the Minister fill any shortfall from qualified subscribers.
1- إذا لم يترشح لانتخابات عضوية مجلس إدارة الغرفة أكثر من العدد المحدد شغله عن طريق الانتخابات، توقف إجراءات الانتخابات ويُعد جميع المترشحين فائزين بالتزكية. 2-
- Article 14
The fourteenth article regulates electing the chair of the Chamber's board and two deputies at the board's first meeting by secret ballot and absolute majority, with a re-vote and a draw on a tie.
يعقد مجلس إدارة الغرفة أول اجتماع له خلال المدة التي تحددها اللائحة لاختيار رئيس المجلس ونائبيه الأول والثاني من بين أعضاء المجلس، ويكون الانتخاب بالاقتراع السر
- Article 18
The eighteenth article regulates filling a vacated seat on the Chamber's board by appointing the highest-polling candidate among those who did not win, or by the Minister appointing a replacement.
إذا خلا محل عضو منتخب في مجلس إدارة الغرفة لأي من الأسباب المنصوص عليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام، يعين بقرار من الوزير المترشح الحائز على أكثر الأصوات
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.