Article 32 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 32 من نظام الدفاع المدني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة المادة السابعة والعشرين يتم ضبط مخالفات هذا النظام والتحقيق فيها وفق قواعد وإجراءات يضعها وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني .
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 32 explained in plain English
This article deals with the stage that precedes imposing a penalty, which is detecting the violation (that is, discovering and proving it) and investigating it. The Law did not set these procedures itself but referred setting them to the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, so their details are found in the rules he issues, and the article does not state the content of those rules.
The article is made subject to what Article 27 provides, by the words "subject to"; that article provides that non-military civil defense personnel are subject, in cases of war, emergencies and disasters, to the military service rules as regards discipline, penalties, and detecting violations and investigating them. So the result is that:
- Violations of this Law generally are detected and investigated under the rules the Minister of the Interior sets.
- As for non-military civil defense personnel in cases of war, emergencies and disasters, the military service rules apply to them in that.
The article is linked to the stages that follow: Article 30 sets the penalties and creates committees to hear violations and impose fines, and Article 31 allows an appeal against the penalty decision before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of its notification. Article 33 also gives the Civil Defense Council the power to issue the regulations and decisions needed to implement the Law.
Anyone found with a violation who wants to understand the procedures followed in his case can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative or criminal matters.
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 32 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
Who sets the procedures for detecting civil defense violations?
The Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, as the article provides.
Do these rules apply to non-military civil defense personnel?
The article is subject to Article 27, which subjects them in cases of war, emergencies and disasters to the military service rules in detecting violations and investigating them.
Does the article set out the investigation steps in detail?
No. It refers to rules and procedures set by the Minister of the Interior and does not state their details.
Articles this article refers to
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 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.
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.

