Article 29 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 29 من نظام الدفاع المدني
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 التي تطبق على من يخالف الخطة، على ألا تتجاوز عقوبة السجن مدة سنة وغرامة مالية لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال أو إحدى هاتين العقوبتين.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article deals with an exceptional power relating to times of crisis, and contains several elements:
First: who holds the power and the circumstance
The Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, in cases of emergencies and disasters, issues decisions implementing the civil defense plan, subject to what the laws provide.
Second: setting the penalties
The Minister specifies in his decisions the penalties that apply to whoever violates the plan, but within a ceiling set by the text:
- Imprisonment: not exceeding one year.
- A fine: not exceeding SAR 50,000.
- The two may be combined, or either one imposed alone.
In practice this means that the obligations the plan imposes at the time of a disaster, and the penalty set for violating them, are learned from the Minister's decisions issued in that situation, not from the text of this article.
A disaster under Article 2 is any fire, demolition, flood, storm, earthquake or any other incident that is likely to cause harm or threaten danger to the lives of individuals or to property.
Article 30 refers to this article expressly, beginning with the phrase "subject to Articles 27, 28 and 29" before setting the general penalty for violating the provisions of the Law, which is imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding SAR 30,000, or both. So violating the civil defense plan in an emergency is subject to the penalties the Minister sets under this article.
Its text was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/66) dated 2/10/1424 AH. Anyone accused of violating the plan can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
During a state of emergency caused by floods in one region, the Minister of the Interior issues a decision implementing the civil defense plan that includes evacuating certain neighborhoods, and sets a penalty for violators. Under this article, the penalty set may not exceed imprisonment for a year and a fine of SAR 50,000, or either of them.
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 29 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
What is the penalty for violating the civil defense plan in disasters?
The Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, sets it in his decisions, provided it does not exceed imprisonment for a year and a fine of SAR 50,000, or either of these penalties.
When does the Minister of the Interior issue decisions implementing the civil defense plan?
In cases of emergencies and disasters, subject to what the laws provide.
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 :
"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 التي تطبق على من يخالف الخطة، على ألا تتجاوز عقوبة السجن مدة سنة وغرامة مالية لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال أو إحدى هاتين العقوبتين".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة يصدر وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني في حالات الطوارئ والكوارث قرارات بتنفيذ خطة الدفاع المدني ، ويعين في قراراته العقوبات التي توقع على من يخالفها على ألا تتجاوز السجن لمدة سنة وغرامة مالية لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال أو إحدى هاتين العقوبتين. ويصدر بتوقيع العقوبة قرار من وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني بناء على رأي الجهة المختصة بالتحقيق ويجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة أمام ديوان المظالم خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ إبلاغ القرار.
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 28Amended by M/66
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.
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
- 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.