Article 28 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 28 من نظام الدفاع المدني
Article 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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
لا يجوز نزع أي آلة أو إشارة مركبة لأغراض الدفاع المدني أو تعطيلها إلا بعد التنسيق مع الدفاع المدني، ويلزم المخالف بتكاليف إعادة أصل الشيء المنزوع أو المعطل إلى حالته السابقة، ويعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article protects machines and signals installed for civil defense purposes, such as alarm devices or signs fixed to serve civil defense work.
The basic rule: no machine or signal of this kind may be removed or disabled except after coordinating with civil defense. The article does not prohibit removal or disabling absolutely, but requires prior coordination.
The consequence of violation, according to the text, is two things together:
- A civil obligation: the violator bears the costs of restoring the removed or disabled item to its former condition.
- A penalty: a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.
The article does not mention imprisonment; the consequence in it is the fine together with the restoration costs. Its current text was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/66) dated 2/10/1424 AH.
In the context of the adjacent articles:
- Article 27 subjects non-military civil defense personnel in cases of war, emergencies and disasters to the military service rules in discipline, penalties and investigation.
- Article 29 allows the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, in cases of emergencies and disasters, to issue decisions implementing the civil defense plan and set the penalties for violating it, provided they do not exceed imprisonment for a year and a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000, or either of these penalties.
Anyone who wants to remove a device or signal of this kind from his building must first coordinate with civil defense. Anyone facing a violation under this article can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters.
Practical example
The owner of a building in Riyadh wants to renovate its facade, and a device installed for civil defense purposes is on it. Under this article he may not remove the device except after coordinating with civil defense; if he removes it without coordination he must bear the costs of restoring it to its former condition, and is punished with a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.
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 28 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
May I remove a civil defense device or sign from my building?
It may not be removed or disabled except after coordinating with civil defense.
What is the penalty for removing or disabling civil defense devices?
The violator bears the costs of restoring the item to its former condition and is punished with a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.
Does this violation carry imprisonment?
Article 28 provides only for the fine and the restoration costs, and does not mention imprisonment.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/66 — 2/10/1424 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/66) وتاريخ 2 / 10 / 1424 هـ ، لتصبح بالنص التالى :
" لا يجوز نزع أي آلة أو إشارة مركبة لأغراض الدفاع المدني أو تعطيلها إلا بعد التنسيق مع الدفاع المدني، ويلزم المخالف بتكاليف إعادة أصل الشيء المنزوع أو المعطل إلى حالته السابقة، ويعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال" .
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
لا يجوز نزع أو تعطيل أية آلة أو إشارة مركبة لأغراض الدفاع المدني إلا بعد التنسيق مع الدفاع المدني، ويلزم المخالف بتكاليف إعادة أصل الشيء المنزوع أو المعطل إلى حالته السابقة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال، وتوقع هذه العقوبة بقرار من وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني .
More articles on Penalties for Violating the Civil Defense Law
- Article 27
Article 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.
يخضع رجال الدفاع المدني من غير العسكريين في حالات الحرب والطوارئ والكوارث من حيث الضبط والربط والعقوبات وضبط المخالفات والتحقيق فيها لنظم الخدمة العسكرية.
- Article 29Amended by M/66
Article 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.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة، يصدر وزير الداخلية رئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني في حالات الطوارئ والكوارث، قرارات بتنفيذ خطة الدفاع المدني، ويعين في قراراته العقوبات ا
- Article 30Amended by M/66
Article 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.
أ - مع مراعاة المواد (السابعة والعشرين) و (الثامنة والعشرين) و (التاسعة والعشرين) ، يعاقب المخالف لأي حكم من أحكام هذا النظام أو لوائحه أو القرارات الصادرة بناء
- Article 31Amended by M/66
Article 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.
يجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغ القرار.
- Article 32
Article 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.
مع مراعاة المادة السابعة والعشرين يتم ضبط مخالفات هذا النظام والتحقيق فيها وفق قواعد وإجراءات يضعها وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني .
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.