Article 33 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 33 من نظام الغرف التجارية · الفصل الرابع: الشؤون المالية للغرفة
Article 33 lists the chamber's financial resources: subscriptions, fees for certificates and attestation, investment returns, accepted donations and gifts, and fees for publications, training, conciliation, arbitration and any other service.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتكون موارد الغرفة المالية مما يأتي:
1- المقابل المالي للاشتراكات.
2- المقابل المالي لإصدار الشهادات والمحررات، والتصديق عليها.
3- عوائد استثمار الأصول التي تملكها الغرفة، وأموالها.
4- التبرعات، والهبات، والإعانات، التي يقبلها مجلس الإدارة.
5- المقابل المالي للمطبوعات والتدريب.
6- المقابل المالي لخدمات الصلح والتحكيم.
7- المقابل المالي لأي خدمة أخرى تقدمها الغرفة للمشتركين، بحسب ما يقرره مجلس إدارة 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 33 explained in plain English
This article sets out the chamber of commerce's sources of income, which are seven resources:
- The subscription fees paid by subscribers.
- Fees for issuing and attesting certificates and documents.
- Returns on investing the assets and funds the chamber owns.
- Donations, gifts and subsidies, provided the chamber's board of directors accepts them.
- Fees for publications and training.
- Fees for conciliation and arbitration services.
- Fees for any other service the chamber provides to subscribers, as its board decides.
This list shows that the chamber funds its activity mainly from the fees for the services and subscriptions it provides and from investing its assets. Two points should be noted: accepting donations, gifts and subsidies is not automatic but depends on the board's acceptance, and charging a fee for additional services not mentioned is by decision of the board and within the scope of services provided to subscribers.
This article comes after Article 32, which provides that a subscriber does not recover the fee for the remaining period when the subscription is canceled, and is followed by Article 34, which makes the chamber's fiscal year the state's fiscal year. The article does not set the amounts of any of these sums.
Practical example
A chamber of commerce in one region receives an offer from a businessman to donate to support a training program. Under the article, donations are among the chamber's resources, but whether it becomes one of its resources depends on the chamber's board of directors accepting it.
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 33 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
What are the sources of income of a chamber of commerce?
Subscriptions, fees for certificates, documents and attestation, investment returns, accepted donations, gifts and subsidies, and fees for publications, training, conciliation, arbitration and any other service to subscribers.
Can a chamber of commerce accept donations?
Yes. Donations, gifts and subsidies are among its resources, provided the chamber's board of directors accepts them.
Does a chamber of commerce charge a fee for arbitration?
Yes. Under this article, the fee for conciliation and arbitration services is one of the chamber's resources.
More articles on Chamber of Commerce Finances
- Article 30
Article 30 refers to the Implementing Regulations for the categories of chamber subscribers and the fee for each, and provides that the fee falls due 3 years after registration in the commercial register.
تحدد اللائحة فئات المشتركين في الغرفة، والمقابل المالي لاشتراك كل فئة، ويبدأ استحقاق المقابل المالي للمشترك في الغرفة بعد مضي (ثلاث) سنوات من تاريخ قيده في السج
- Article 34
Article 34 makes the chamber of commerce's fiscal year the same as the state's fiscal year.
السنة المالية للغرفة هي السنة المالية للدولة.
- Article 35
When the estimated budget is delayed, the chamber works on the previous budget's estimates until the General Assembly approves the new one within 90 days with the Minister's approval; otherwise the Ministry may take whatever action it sees fit.
في حال تأخر إصدار الموازنة التقديرية للغرفة، يُعمل بتقديرات الميزانية السابقة إلى أن توافق الجمعية العمومية للغرفة على مشروع الموازنة التقديرية الجديدة خلال (تس
- Article 36
Article 36 bars spending without an approved allocation or beyond it, and transferring or misusing allocations, without the board's approval; violations are void and those responsible must repay the funds within 30 days.
1- لا يجوز صرف أي مبلغ ليس له اعتماد في ميزانية الغرفة أو يزيد على الاعتماد المخصص له. ولا يجوز كذلك نقل مبلغ من باب إلى آخر في الميزانية، ولا استخدام اعتماد ما
- Article 37
Article 37 requires the chamber to have a licensed auditor chosen each year by its General Assembly from at least three nominated by the board, for no more than four consecutive years, who submits an annual report with a copy to the Ministry.
يكون للغرفة مراجع حسابات (أو أكثر) من مراجعي الحسابات المرخص لهم بالعمل في المملكة، تختاره الجمعية العمومية للغرفة سنويًّا من بين ثلاثة على الأقل يرشحهم مجلس إد
- Article 38
Article 38 requires the chamber's budget, financial statements and final accounts to be published as the Implementing Regulations set out.
تُنشر ميزانية الغرفة والقوائم المالية وحسابها الختامي وفقًا لما تحدده اللائحة.
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.