Article 8 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 8 من نظام الدفاع المدني
The 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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
إذا بحث مجلس الدفاع المدني أمراً يدخل في اختصاص جهة أو جهات حكومية غير ممثلة فيه أو في اللجنة العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني؛ فعلى المجلس أخذ رأي هذه الجهة أو الجهات ثم إصدار قراره بما يراه محققاً للمصلحة العامة، مع إحاطة الجهة أو الجهات بما يقرره
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 8 explained in plain English
This article deals with a practical situation: the Civil Defense Council may discuss a subject within the jurisdiction of a government body that is not represented in its membership or in the General Committee for Civil Defense Work whose formation Article 7 provides for.
In this case the article requires specific steps of the Council:
- Obtain the opinion of the government body or bodies concerned.
- Then issue its decision as it sees best serves the public interest.
- And inform the body or bodies of what it decided.
Two points are understood from the text:
- Obtaining the opinion is mandatory on the Council before issuing the decision, because the text says "the Council must".
- The final decision remains the Council's, as it sees best serves the public interest: the article does not require the body's consent, but obtaining its opinion and then informing it of the decision.
The purpose of this provision is to achieve coordination among government bodies, since civil defense work touches the jurisdictions of many bodies, and they cannot all be represented in the Council. This article ensures that the competent body's point of view is heard, and that it is informed of what is decided on a matter within its jurisdiction.
This article connects with Article 9, which sets out the Council's wide powers, including approving the tasks and responsibilities of government agencies and other bodies for carrying out civil defense work. Its current text was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/63) dated 13/9/1436 AH.
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 8 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
Must the Civil Defense Council obtain the opinion of bodies not represented in it?
Yes. If it considers a matter within the jurisdiction of a government body not represented in it or in the General Committee, it must obtain its opinion before issuing its decision.
Is that body's approval required for the Council's decision?
The text does not require its approval. The Council issues its decision as it sees best serves the public interest and then informs the body of it.
Amendment history
Amendment — 13/9/1436 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم : ( م/ 63 ) وتاريخ 13/ 9 /1436هـ ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
"المادة الثامنة:
إذا بحث مجلس الدفاع المدني أمراً يدخل في اختصاص جهة أو جهات حكومية غير ممثلة فيه أو في اللجنة العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني؛ فعلى المجلس أخذ رأي هذه الجهة أو الجهات ثم إصدار قراره بما يراه محققاً للمصلحة العامة، مع إحاطة الجهة أو الجهات بما يقرره".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
إذا بحث مجلس الدفاع المدني أمرا يدخل في اختصاص جهة أو جهات حكومية غير ممثلة في المجلس أو اللجنة التحضيرية، فيجب على المجلس أخذ رأي هذه الجهة أو الجهات ثم إصدار قراره بما يراه محققا للمصلحة العامة مع إحاطة الجهة أو الجهات بما يتقرر.
More articles on Civil Defense Council
- Article 4
The article sets the components of the civil defense apparatus: the Civil Defense Council, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, and the civil defense committees.
يتألف جهاز الدفاع المدني ، مما يلي: - مجلس الدفاع المدني . - المديرية العامة للدفاع المدني . - لجان الدفاع المدني .
- Article 5
The 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.
يكون تشكيل مجلس الدفاع المدني على النحو الآتي: أ - وزير الداخلية رئيساً ب - وزير الحرس الوطني – أو من ينيبه - عضواً ج - رئيس هيئة الهلال الأحمر السعودي – أو من
- Article 6
The 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.
يجتمع مجلس الدفاع المدني برئاسة رئيسه – أو من ينيبه – مرتين في السنة على الأقل، وكلما دعت الحاجة إلى ذلك، ويكون اجتماع المجلس نظاميًّا بحضور أغلبية أعضائه، وفي
- Article 7
The 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.
أ - تُشكل لجنة عامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني، ترتبط تنظيميًّا برئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني، وذلك على النحو الآتي: 1 – مدير عام الدفاع المدني رئيساً 2 – ممثل لوزارة الح
- Article 9
The 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.
أ - مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة، يختص مجلس الدفاع المدني بما يأتي: 1 - إقرار السياسة العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني. 2 - اعتماد الخطط العامة لأعمال الدفاع المدني.
- Article 10
The 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.
يجوز لرئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني دعوة من يرى الاستعانة بهم لحضور جلسات المجلس دون أن يكون لهم حق التصويت.
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.