Article 23 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 23 من نظام الغرف التجارية · الفصل الثاني: الأجهزة الإدارية للغرفة
Article 23 governs the confidentiality of chamber board discussions, decisions by majority of those present, open voting, inviting non-members, and electronic meetings and circulation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تكون المناقشات في اجتماعات مجلس إدارة الغرفة سرية.
2- تصدر قرارات مجلس إدارة الغرفة بأغلبية عدد أصوات الأعضاء الحاضرين، فإن تساوت الأصوات يرجح الجانب الذي صوت معه رئيس الاجتماع.
3- مع مراعاة المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، يجرى التصويت على القرارات بطريقة الاقتراع العلني وفق ما يراه المجلس.
4- لمجلس الإدارة أن يدعو إلى حضور اجتماعاته من يرى ضرورة حضوره دون أن يكون له الحق في التصويت على قرارات المجلس.
5- يجوز عقد الاجتماعات والتصويت على القرارات بالوسائل الإلكترونية، أو اتخاذ القرارات بالتمرير في حال الإجماع عليها؛ وتحدد اللائحة ضوابط ذلك.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article sets the rules for discussion and decision-making inside the chamber's board of directors:
- Confidential discussions: discussions in board meetings are confidential.
- Majority: decisions are issued by a majority of the votes of the members present. If the votes are tied, the side the meeting's chair voted with prevails.
- Open voting: as a rule, voting on decisions is by open ballot as the board sees fit, subject to Article 14. Article 14 makes the election of the board's chairman and his two deputies by secret ballot, separately for each, by an absolute majority of the votes of those present, with a re-vote and a draw in a tie. So the open-voting rule does not cover this election.
- Attendance of non-members: the board may invite anyone whose attendance it considers necessary, without the right to vote.
- Electronic means and circulation: meetings and voting may be held electronically, and decisions may be taken by circulation (that is, without a meeting) where they are agreed unanimously. The Implementing Regulations set the rules for this.
Note that the tie-break goes to the vote of the person chairing the meeting, who may be the chamber's president or one of his deputies, depending on who chairs.
This article is linked to Article 22, which sets the quorum needed for a meeting to be valid in the first place, and to Article 24, which bars anyone with a direct or indirect interest in the chamber's contracts or agreements from attending the deliberations on them or voting on them, after notifying the board of that interest.
Practical example
A chamber board votes on choosing a company to organize an exhibition, and those present split 6 to 6, with the meeting's chair among the supporters. The side the meeting's chair voted with prevails, so the decision is approved.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 23 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
How are the decisions of a chamber of commerce board made?
By a majority of the votes of the members present. In a tie, the side the meeting's chair voted with prevails.
Can chamber board decisions be taken by circulation?
Yes, where the decision is agreed unanimously. The Implementing Regulations set the rules for this.
Is voting on a chamber board secret or open?
As a rule, voting is by open ballot as the board sees fit, subject to Article 14, which makes the election of the president and his deputies secret.
Can non-members attend chamber board meetings?
The board may invite anyone whose attendance it considers necessary, without the right to vote.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Chamber Board Powers and Meetings
- Article 15
The fifteenth article provides that the first deputy takes the Chamber president's place with full powers when he is absent or loses membership, then the second deputy when both are absent or lose membership.
يقوم النائب الأول لرئيس الغرفة مقام الرئيس، وتكون له جميع صلاحياته ويمارس جميع مهماته عند غيابه أو فقده عضوية مجلس إدارة الغرفة وفقًا للمادة (السابعة عشرة) من ا
- Article 19
Article 19 lists the powers of the chamber's board of directors, including approving policies, reviewing regulations, acting on the chamber's behalf, appointing the Secretary General, and forming committees.
يختص مجلس إدارة الغرفة بما يأتي: 1- إقرار السياسات العامة للغرفة والخطط والبرامج والمشروعات اللازمة لأداء مهماتها. 2- دراسة مشروعات لوائح الغرفة الداخلية، بما ف
- Article 20
Article 20 gives the chamber's president responsibility for following up on strategic matters and for calling and chairing General Assembly and board meetings, and leaves his or her other powers to the Implementing Regulations.
يختص رئيس الغرفة بصفة خاصة بمتابعة مهمات الغرفة ذات الطابع الاستراتيجي، والدعوة إلى اجتماعات الجمعية العمومية للغرفة ومجلس الإدارة، ورئاسة هذه الاجتماعات وإدارت
- Article 21
Article 21 requires the chamber's board to meet at least once every 60 days, and governs emergency meetings called by the president or requested by one third of the members.
1- يجتمع مجلس إدارة الغرفة في مقرها مرة كل (ستين) يوماً على الأقل بدعوة من رئيسه، ويجب أن تشتمل الدعوة على جدول أعمال الاجتماع. 2- لرئيس الغرفة دعوة مجلس الإدار
- Article 22
Article 22 sets the quorum for a chamber board meeting and allows it to be postponed twice if the quorum is not reached, with a Ministry representative attending the third meeting.
تكون اجتماعات مجلس إدارة الغرفة صحيحة بحضور أكثر من نصف عدد أعضائه، على أن يكون من بينهم رئيس الغرفة أو أحد نائبيه. فإن لم يكتمل النصاب، يؤجل الاجتماع -بقرار من
- Article 24
Article 24 requires the chamber's president, deputies, members and Secretary General to notify the board of any interest in the chamber's contracts, and bars them from attending the deliberations and voting on them.
إذا كان لرئيس الغرفة أو أحد نائبيه أو أحد أعضاء المجلس أو الأمين العام للغرفة مصلحة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة في العقود أو الاتفاقيات التي تبرمها الغرفة، فيتعين عليه
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.