Article 12 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 12 من نظام الغرف التجارية · الفصل الثاني: الأجهزة الإدارية للغرفة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تُحدد اللائحة إجراءات الترشح والانتخاب بما في ذلك ضوابط الانتخاب الفردي وانتخاب المجموعات، وإجراءات الاقتراع والاعتراض والطعن، وتشكيل لجان الإشراف على الانتخابات والنظر في الاعتراضات والطعون، ويصدر الوزير قرارًا باعتماد نتيجة الانتخابات.
2- لا يجوز انتخاب أكثر من عضو في مجلس إدارة الغرفة من منشأة تجارية واحدة.
3- لا يستحق عضو مجلس إدارة الغرفة أي مقابل مالي نظير عضويته في مجلس الإدارة أو حضور اجتماعاته أو لجانه، ولا يجوز أن يصرف له بدل انتقال أو سفر.
4- لا يجوز أن يترشح العضو لأكثر من دورتين متتاليتين، وتعد العضوية في مجلس الإدارة دورة كاملة إذا زادت مدتها على سنتين.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article sets out the basic rules for the Chamber's board elections and members' rights:
- The Implementing Regulations specify the procedures: The Implementing Regulations specify the nomination and election procedures, including the controls for individual elections and group elections, the voting, objection and appeal procedures, and the formation of committees to supervise the elections and consider objections and appeals. The Minister then issues a decision approving the election results.
- One member per establishment: More than one member of the board may not be elected from a single commercial establishment.
- Membership without pay: A member is not entitled to any financial payment for membership or for attending meetings of the board or its committees, and no transport or travel allowance may be paid to him.
- Term limit: A member may not stand for more than two consecutive terms. Membership counts as a full term if it lasts more than two years.
The effect of the last rule is practical: someone who joined the board in the middle of a term and stayed more than two years has that period counted as a full term when calculating the two consecutive terms.
This article connects to Article 11, which makes the board's term four years and lets the Minister appoint a third of the members, and to Article 13, which regulates the case where no more than the required number stand, in which case all the candidates are considered to have won by acclamation. Anyone wishing to challenge an election result or a decision relating to it should refer to the Implementing Regulations for the procedures and may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial and company cases.
Practical example
A trading company in Mecca has a manager and a partner who both wish to stand for the Chamber's board of directors. No more than one of them may be elected because they are from a single establishment. Whichever of them wins will not receive any reward or travel allowance for membership.
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 12 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
Does a chamber of commerce board member receive a salary or reward?
He is not entitled to any financial payment for membership or for attending meetings or committees, and no transport or travel allowance may be paid to him.
How many terms may a member stand for in the chamber of commerce?
He may not stand for more than two consecutive terms, and membership counts as a full term if it lasts more than two years.
May two members from the same establishment be elected?
More than one member of the Chamber's board may not be elected from a single commercial establishment.
Who approves the results of chamber of commerce elections?
The Minister issues a decision approving the election results, and the Implementing Regulations specify the nomination, voting and appeal procedures.
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 11
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.
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 دور
- 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.