In force Last amended 13/9/1436 AH
Saudi Civil Defense Law
نظام الدفاع المدني
Covers what civil defense and its procedures mean, what counts as a disaster, the bodies relied on to carry out civil defense work, the Civil Defense apparatus (the Civil Defense Council, General Directorate and committees) with its administrative rules and powers, the powers of the Council's chairman, general provisions, and the penalties for violations, how they are investigated and who applies them.
- Articles
- 36
- In force
- 36
- Amended
- 13
- Issued
- 10/5/1406 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م/10 بتاريخ 10 / 5 / 1406 · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم 25 بتاريخ 23 / 1 / 1406
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Civil Defense Law by topic
Concept of Civil Defense and Disaster3 articlesBodies Carrying Out Civil Defense Work2 articlesCivil Defense Council9 articlesPowers of the Minister of Interior in Disasters4 articlesGeneral Directorate of Civil Defense3 articlesVolunteers and Assistance in Civil Defense4 articlesSafety and Industrial Security Requirements4 articlesPublic and Private Shelters3 articlesPenalties for Violating the Civil Defense Law6 articlesCivil Defense Regulations and Entry into Force4 articles
Articles of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
- Article 1The article defines civil defense as the measures and work needed to protect people and property from fires, disasters, wars and accidents in peace and war, and gives examples of this work.
- Article 2The article defines a disaster as any fire, collapse, flood, storm, earthquake or other accident that causes harm or threatens the lives of individuals or property.
- Article 3The article names the bodies and persons relied on to carry out civil defense work, under plans and rules set by the Civil Defense Council in coordination with the relevant bodies.
- Article 4The article sets the components of the civil defense apparatus: the Civil Defense Council, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, and the civil defense committees.
- Article 5The article sets the composition of the Civil Defense Council, chaired by the Minister of Interior, with a number of ministers, heads of government bodies and the Director General of Civil Defense as members.
- Article 6The article regulates the Civil Defense Council's meetings and quorum: it meets at least twice a year, and decisions are taken by a majority of those present, with the chairman's side prevailing in a tie.
- Article 7The article creates the General Committee for Civil Defense Work and names its members, and regulates the Council's budget, general secretariat, National Search and Rescue Team and the secretariat's units.
- Article 8The article requires the Civil Defense Council, when considering a matter concerning a government body not represented in it or in the General Committee, to obtain that body's opinion, then issue its decision and inform it.
- Article 9The article sets the powers of the Civil Defense Council, the General Committee for Civil Defense Work and the Council's secretariat, from approving policies and regulations to following up disasters, reports and budgets.
- Article 10The article allows the chairman of the Civil Defense Council to invite whomever he sees fit to attend the Council's sessions, without a right to vote.
- Article 11The article provides that the Civil Defense Council exercises its powers in war and emergencies under the supervision of the Supreme Defense Council.
- Article 12The article sets the powers of the Minister of Interior, chairman of the Civil Defense Council, including coordinating with military and security bodies, temporary use of property for fair compensation, and determining and declaring a disaster.
- Article 13The article provides that the General Directorate of Civil Defense is formed by decision of the Minister of Interior within budget provisions, and makes its Director General responsible for carrying out its powers and the proper running of its work.
- Article 14The article lists the powers of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, including proposing plans and carrying them out, facing declared disasters, relieving the affected, and recommending compensation for damage.
- Article 15The article makes the civil defense director in each area responsible for carrying out civil defense operations there and coordinating other measures with the competent bodies.
- Article 16Article 16 provides for meals at State expense for those carrying out civil defense work during emergencies, disasters and wars, under a regulation issued by the Civil Defense Council.
- Article 17Article 17 allows civil defense to call on those whom the interest requires to be summoned, with their rights, duties and relationship to their workplaces regulated by a regulation issued by the Council of Ministers.
- Article 18Article 18 makes every person, even if not a volunteer, responsible for providing the possible and necessary assistance to civil defense operations in cases where necessity calls for it.
- Article 19Article 19 provides for teaching the principles of civil defense at all stages of general education, in civilian and military institutes, and in training institutes and centers, according to information set by the Civil Defense Council in agreement with the educational bodies.
- Article 20Article 20 makes it a condition for granting licenses for activities, buildings and facilities covered by the safety rules that the licensee comply with the safety conditions and rules issued by the Civil Defense Council.
- Article 21Article 21 provides for building the necessary public shelters in parks, public squares, plazas and suitable crowded places, according to rules, conditions and specifications set by the Civil Defense Council.
- Article 22Article 22 requires all administrative bodies to build the necessary shelters within the buildings belonging to them, as the Civil Defense Council decides.
- Article 23Article 23 requires private companies and institutions to cooperate with the General Directorate of Civil Defense to verify the adequacy of firefighting and rescue personnel and equipment and the implementation of preventive safety rules.
- Article 24Article 24 provides for coordination between the General Directorate of Civil Defense and the administrative bodies that have safety departments or firefighting teams, to verify the adequacy of firefighting and rescue and the implementation of preventive safety.
- Article 25Article 25 requires government bodies and private institutions designated by a decision of the Minister of the Interior to appoint or assign someone responsible for safety and industrial security work, under a regulation issued by the Civil Defense Council.
- Article 26Article 26 requires that when civil defense measures and operations are carried out, the sanctity of buildings and facilities be affected as little as possible and damage be limited to the narrowest bounds.
- Article 27Article 27 subjects non-military civil defense personnel, in cases of war, emergencies and disasters, to the military service rules in discipline, penalties, detecting violations and investigating them.
- Article 28Article 28 prohibits removing or disabling any machine or signal installed for civil defense purposes except after coordinating with civil defense, and obliges the violator to pay restoration costs and punishes him with a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.Amended M/66
- Article 29Article 29 gives the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, in emergencies and disasters, the power to issue decisions implementing the civil defense plan and set penalties for violating it, up to imprisonment for one year and a fine of SAR 50,000.Amended M/66
- Article 30Article 30 sets the general penalty for violating the Civil Defense Law, its regulations and decisions at imprisonment for up to six months or a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or both, and creates committees to hear violations and impose fines.Amended M/66
- Article 31Article 31 allows anyone against whom a penalty decision has been issued under the Civil Defense Law to appeal it before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of being notified of the decision.Amended M/66
- Article 32Article 32 provides that violations of the Civil Defense Law are detected and investigated under rules and procedures set by the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, subject to Article 27.
- Article 33Article 33 gives the Civil Defense Council the power to issue the regulations and decisions needed to implement the Civil Defense Law.
- Article 34Article 34 makes the right to interpret the Civil Defense Law the Council of Ministers'.
- Article 35Article 35 provides that the Civil Defense Law repeals everything that conflicts with its provisions.
- Article 36Article 36 provides that the Civil Defense Law is published in the Official Gazette and takes effect six months after the date of its publication.