Article 51 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
المادة 51 من نظام الغرف التجارية · الفصل الثاني: الأجهزة الإدارية لاتحاد الغرف
The Federation's board meets at least every 90 days; the article sets quorums of more than half, then one third, then whoever attends, decisions by majority of those present, circulation by unanimity, and electronic means.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجتمع مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف مرة كل (تسعين) يوماً على الأقل بدعوة من رئيسه، أو بطلب مكتوب من ثلث أعضائه على الأقل، وعلى رئيس اتحاد الغرف في هذه الحالة توجيه الدعوة إلى الاجتماع خلال الـــ(خمسة عشر) يومًا التالية لتلقيه الطلب.
2- لا تكون اجتماعات مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف صحيحة إلا بحضور أكثر من نصف أعضائه، على أن يكون من بينهم رئيس اتحاد الغرف أو أحد نائبيه. فإن لم يكتمل النصاب، يؤجل عقد الاجتماع مدة لا تقل عن (خمسة عشر) يومًا ولا تتجاوز (ثلاثين) يوماً؛ وفي هذه الحالة لا يكون الاجتماع صحيحًا إلا بحضور ثلث الأعضاء على الأقل، على أن يكون من بينهم الرئيس أو أحد نائبيه. وفي حال عدم اكتمال النصاب للمرة الثانية يؤجل عقد الاجتماع لمدة (خمسة عشر) يومًا أخرى، ويكون الاجتماع الثالث صحيحًا بمن حضر، على أن يكون من بينهم الرئيس أو أحد نائبيه، ويحضر هذا الاجتماع مندوب من الوزارة. وفي حال عدم انعقاد هذا الاجتماع فتتخذ الوزارة ما تراه مناسباً.
3- تصدر قرارات مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف بأغلبية عدد أصوات الأعضاء الحاضرين، فإن تساوت الأصوات يرجح الجانب الذي صوت معه رئيس الاجتماع. ويجوز لمجلس الإدارة في الحالات الطارئة اتخاذ قراره بالتمرير في حال الإجماع.
4- يجوز عقد الاجتماعات والتصويت على القرارات بالوسائل الإلكترونية وفق الضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article governs meetings of the Federation of Chambers' board of directors, their quorum and their decisions:
1- Meeting: the board meets at least once every ninety days at the call of its president, or at the written request of at least one third of the members, and the president must then issue the call within the fifteen days following receipt of the request.
2- Quorum:
- First meeting: more than half of the members present, including the president or one of his or her two deputies.
- If not reached: it is postponed for a period of not less than 15 days and not more than 30 days, and is valid with at least one third of the members present, including the president or one of his or her two deputies.
- If not reached a second time: it is postponed another 15 days, and the third meeting is valid with whoever attends, provided the president or one of his or her two deputies is among them, and a Ministry representative attends it.
- If the third meeting is not held: the Ministry takes whatever action it sees fit.
3- Decisions: issued by a majority of the votes of those present, and in a tie the side the meeting's chair voted with prevails. In urgent cases a decision may be taken by circulation, provided it is unanimous.
4- Electronic means: meetings may be held and voting done electronically under the Regulations' rules.
Note that the presence of the president or one of his or her deputies is a condition at all three stages. It is preceded by Article 50, which makes calling, chairing and running the board's meetings the responsibility of the Federation's president, and followed by Article 52, which requires the Secretary General to attend board meetings, other than closed ones, without the right to vote.
Practical example
The Federation of Chambers' board is called to a meeting and fewer than half the members attend. The meeting is postponed for a period between 15 and 30 days, and is then valid with one third of the members present, including the president or one of his or her deputies. If that is not reached, it is postponed another 15 days and the third meeting is valid with whoever attends, with the president or one of his or her deputies present and a Ministry representative attending.
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 51 of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce Law
How often does the Federation of Chambers' board meet?
At least once every ninety days at the call of its president, or at the written request of at least one third of its members.
What is the quorum for a meeting of the Federation's board?
More than half the members, including the president or one of his or her two deputies; then one third at the first postponement; then whoever attends at the third meeting, provided the president or a deputy is present.
What happens if votes are tied in the Federation's board?
The side the meeting's chair voted with prevails.
May the board take a decision by circulation?
Yes, in urgent cases, provided the decision is unanimous.
More articles on Federation Board of Directors
- Article 43
Article 43 names the three administrative bodies of the Federation of Chambers: the General Assembly, the board of directors, and the General Secretariat.
تتكون أجهزة اتحاد الغرف الإدارية مما يأتي: 1- الجمعية العمومية. 2- مجلس الإدارة. 3- الأمانة العامة.
- Article 44
The Federation's General Assembly is made up of the chambers, each represented by members of its board other than its president, according to its number of subscribers under the Regulations and with a minimum of one member.
تتكون الجمعية العمومية لاتحاد الغرف من الغرف، ويتم تمثيل الغرفة في الجمعية العمومية من بين أعضاء مجلس إدارة الغرفة عدا رئيسها، ويكون تمثيل كل غرفة في الجمعية ال
- Article 45
Article 45 sets the powers of the Federation's General Assembly: following the board, discussing matters, approving the report, final accounts, budget and internal regulations, and approving the auditor.
تختص الجمعية العمومية لاتحاد الغرف بما يأتي: 1- متابعة أعمال مجلس إدارة الاتحاد. 2- مناقشة الموضوعات المتعلقة بالاتحاد التي يقدمها إليها أي من أعضائها. 3- مناقش
- Article 46
The Federation's General Assembly meets yearly within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year, and may be called at the request of the board or 20% of its members, with meetings and voting allowed electronically.
1- تجتمع الجمعية العمومية لاتحاد الغرف في مقره الرئيس مرة على الأقل كل سنة خلال الـــ(تسعين) يوماً التالية لانتهاء السنة المالية، وذلك بدعوة من رئيس اتحاد الغرف
- Article 47
Article 47 provides that the Federation of Chambers' board of directors is made up of the presidents of the chambers.
يتكون مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف من رؤساء الغرف.
- Article 48
The Federation's board elects its president and two deputies by secret ballot and absolute majority, the Minister appoints them for three years, and the president may not run for the next term unless he or she served less than a year.
1- يعقد مجلس إدارة اتحاد الغرف أول اجتماع له خلال المدة التي تحددها اللائحة لاختيار رئيس المجلس ونائبيه الأول والثاني من بين أعضائه، ويتم الانتخاب بالاقتراع الس
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.