Article 17 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 17 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
A general assembly meeting is valid if more than half of the members attend; otherwise it is postponed to a date between one hour and 15 days later. Ordinary assembly decisions pass by a majority of those present, extraordinary ones by two-thirds.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يعد اجتماع الجمعية العمومية (العادية أو غير العادية) صحيحاً إذا حضره أكثر من نصف أعضائها ، فإن لم يتحقق ذلك أُجّل الاجتماع إلى موعد آخر يعقد خلال مدة أقلها ساعة وأقصاها خمسة عشر يوماً من موعد الاجتماع الأول ، ويكون الاجتماع في هذه الحالة بالنسبة إلى الجمعية العمومية العاديـة صحيحاً مهما كان عدد الأعضاء الحاضرين ، وبما لا يقل عن (25٪) من إجمالي الأعضاء بالنسبة إلى الجمعية العمومية غير العادية.
2 - تصدر قرارات الجمعية العمومية العادية بأغلبية عدد الأعضاء الحاضرين.
3 - تصدر قرارات الجمعية العمومية غير العادية بأغلبية ثلثي عدد الأعضاء الحاضرين.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article sets the quorum and voting rules of the general assembly:
First: quorum at the first meeting. The meeting, whether ordinary or extraordinary, is valid if more than half of the members attend.
Second: the postponed meeting. If the quorum is not met, the meeting is postponed to a date no sooner than one hour and no later than 15 days after the first date. The quorum at the postponed meeting is:
- Ordinary assembly: valid regardless of how many members attend.
- Extraordinary assembly: not less than 25% of all members.
Third: the majority.
- Ordinary assembly decisions: a majority of those present.
- Extraordinary assembly decisions: a two-thirds majority of those present.
The logic is that extraordinary assembly decisions, such as dissolution or amending the articles of association, are more serious, so a higher quorum is required at the postponed meeting and a larger majority is required to decide.
Worked example: an association has 100 members. Its first meeting is valid if 51 attend. If 40 attend, the meeting is postponed; if it is an ordinary assembly, the postponed meeting is valid with any number, and if it is extraordinary, at least 25 must attend. If 30 attend an extraordinary assembly, the approval of 20 is needed for a decision to pass.
Practical example
An association in Riyadh with 80 members called an extraordinary meeting to amend its articles of association, but only 30 attended. The meeting is postponed to a date between one hour and 15 days later, and the postponed meeting is valid if at least 20 members attend. The amendment passes with the approval of two-thirds of those present.
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 17 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
What is the quorum for the first general assembly meeting?
The meeting is valid if more than half of the members attend.
What happens if the quorum is not met?
The meeting is postponed to a date between at least one hour and at most 15 days later. The postponed meeting is valid for an ordinary assembly with any number of members, and for an extraordinary assembly if at least 25% of all members attend.
What majority is required for extraordinary general assembly decisions?
A majority of two-thirds of the members present.
More articles on General Assembly of a Civil Association
- Article 13
The general assembly consists of the founders and members of at least six months' standing, is called 15 days ahead, meets in ordinary session within the first four months of the year, and members may not vote on matters of personal interest.
1- تتكون الجمعية العمومية من الأعضاء المؤسسين والأعضاء الذين مضت على عضويتهم في الجمعية ستة أشهر على الأقل ، بشرط تسديد رسوم العضوية إن وجدت. 2 - تعقد الجمعية ا
- Article 14
The ordinary general assembly approves financial statements and the budget, discusses the board's report, approves the investment plan, elects the board and discharges the previous one, and appoints the auditor.
تختص الجمعية العمومية العادية بالآتي : 1 - دراسة تقرير مراجع الحسابات عن القوائم المالية للسنة المالية المنتهية ، واعتمادها بعد مناقشتها. 2 - إقرار مشروع الميزا
- Article 15
The extraordinary general assembly decides board members' resignation and removal and fills vacancies, cancels board decisions, proposes merger, approves amending the basic regulation and voluntary dissolution.
تختص الجمعية العمومية غير العادية بالنظر في المسائل الآتية : 1 - البت في استقالة أي من أعضاء مجلس الإدارة ، أو إسقاط العضوية عنه ، وانتخاب من يشغل المراكز الشاغ
- Article 16
The Article bars the ordinary and extraordinary general assemblies from considering any matters not on their agenda.
لا يجوز للجمعية العمومية (العادية أو غير العادية) أن تنظر في مسائل غير مدرجة في جدول أعمالها.
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.