Article 2 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 2 من نظام الدفاع المدني
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالكارثة المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام كل ما يحدث من حريق أو هدم أو سيل أو عاصفة أو زلزال أو أي حادث آخر من شأنه أن يلحق الضرر أو يهدد بالخطر حياة الأفراد أو الممتلكات العامة أو الخاصة .
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 2 explained in plain English
This article sets the definition of a "disaster" as it is meant wherever it appears in the Civil Defense Law. The definition is important because many of the Law's provisions are built on a disaster occurring.
According to the text, a disaster is anything that occurs in the form of:
- A fire.
- A collapse.
- A flood.
- A storm.
- An earthquake.
- Or any other accident.
provided that the accident is of a nature to cause harm or threaten the lives of individuals or public or private property.
Two things can be noted in this definition:
- It is broad: the examples given are not exhaustive, and the phrase "any other accident" brings in every accident in which the required quality is present.
- It does not require harm actually to occur; it is enough for the accident to be of a nature to threaten lives or property.
This definition is linked to Article 1, which defines civil defense as the measures and work needed to protect people and property from the dangers of fires, disasters, wars and various accidents, relieve disaster victims, and remove the effects of disasters. It is also linked to Article 3, which shows the bodies relied on to carry out civil defense work, including ministries, property owners and occupiers, and volunteers.
Practical example
Part of an old building collapsed in a neighborhood in Riyadh without anyone being hurt, but the collapse threatened the neighboring houses. This accident falls within the definition of a disaster in this article, because it is a collapse of a nature to threaten the lives of individuals and property, even if no human harm occurred.
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 contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 2 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
What is a disaster in the Civil Defense Law?
It is anything that occurs in the form of a fire, collapse, flood, storm, earthquake or any other accident of a nature to cause harm or threaten the lives of individuals or public or private property.
Must harm occur for an accident to count as a disaster?
No. According to the text, it is enough for the accident to be of a nature to threaten the lives of individuals or property.
Are disasters limited to the examples listed?
No. The article covers any other accident in which the quality of causing harm or threatening danger is present.
More articles on Concept of Civil Defense and Disaster
- Article 1
The 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.
الدفاع المدني هو مجموعة الإجراءات والأعمال اللازمة لحماية السكان والممتلكات العامة والخاصة من أخطار الحرائق والكوارث والحروب والحوادث المختلفة، وإغاثة المنكوبين
- Article 26
Article 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.
يجب عند تنفيذ تدابير وعمليات الدفاع المدني عدم التأثير على حرمة المباني والمنشآت ما أمكن ذلك وحصر الضرر في أضيق الحدود.
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.