Article 23 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 23 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
After a warning and by a reasoned decision, the Minister may suspend, dissolve or merge an association in specified cases, such as fewer than five members, departing from its objectives, or financial inability; the Ministry may also suspend or end its contracts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للوزير - بقرار مُسَّببٍ وبعد إنذارها - تعليق نشاط الجمعية مؤقتاً ، أو حلها أو دمجها في جمعية أخرى ، وذلك في إحدى الحالات الآتية :
أ - إذا قل عدد أعضائها عن خمسة أشخاص.
ب - إذا خرجت عن أهدافها ، أو ارتكبت مخالفات جسيمة لهذا النظام ، أو اللائحة ، أو اللائحة الأساسية.
جـ - إذا أصبحت عاجزة عن الوفاء بالتزاماتها المالية.
د - إذا تصرفت في أموالها في غير الأوجه المحددة لها.
هـ - إذا ارتكبت مخالفات لأحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ، أو النظام العام ، أو الآداب العامة ، أو أي فعل يخل بالوحدة الوطنية.
2 - إذا ثبت للوزارة وقوع أخطاء جسيمة تؤثر على تنفيذ عقد أبرمته الجمعية مع جهة حكومية أو خاصة لإدارة مؤسسة تابعة لها أو تنفيذ أي من مشروعات تلك الجهة أو برامجها أو خدماتها؛ فللوزارة - بعد التنسيق مع الجهة - وقف تنفيذ العقد مؤقتاً إلى حين إزالة المخالفات ، أو إنهائه.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article regulates the major administrative sanctions against an association:
First: suspension, dissolution or merger. The Minister may, by a reasoned decision and after warning the association, temporarily suspend its activity, dissolve it, or merge it into another association, in any of these cases:
- Its members fall below five persons.
- It departs from its objectives or commits serious violations of the Law, the Regulations or the articles of association.
- It becomes unable to meet its financial obligations.
- It disposes of its funds other than for their designated purposes.
- It commits violations of the provisions of Sharia, public order or public morals, or any act that undermines national unity.
Second: the association's contracts with other bodies. If the Ministry establishes that serious errors have occurred that affect the performance of a contract the association concluded with a government or private body to run an institution belonging to it or to carry out its projects, programs or services, the Ministry may, after coordinating with that body, temporarily suspend performance of the contract until the violations are removed, or terminate it.
Safeguards: requiring a reasoned decision and a prior warning gives the association a chance to correct matters and lets it know the reasons for the decision.
The difference from Article 22 is that dissolution there is voluntary, by decision of the extraordinary general assembly, whereas here it is by administrative decision. Article 24 follows, restricting liquidation and the disposal of funds after these decisions. An association that receives a warning should consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases immediately.
Practical example
An association in Hail received a warning because it spent donations earmarked for sponsoring orphans on unrelated administrative expenses. If it does not address the situation, a reasoned decision may be issued suspending its activity temporarily, dissolving it, or merging it into another association.
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 23 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
When can a civil society association be dissolved by administrative decision?
When its members fall below five, it departs from its objectives or commits serious violations, it becomes unable to meet its financial obligations, it disposes of its funds other than for their designated purposes, or it violates Sharia, public order or public morals or undermines national unity.
Must the association be warned before it is dissolved?
Yes, the decision must be reasoned and issued after warning the association.
Can an association's contract with a government body be terminated?
Yes. If serious errors affecting its performance are established, the Ministry may, after coordinating with that body, suspend the contract temporarily or terminate it.
More articles on Dissolution and Merger of Civil Associations
- 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 22
An association may be dissolved voluntarily by decision of the extraordinary general assembly, in accordance with the Law and the articles of association.
يجوز حلُّ الجمعية حلاًّ اختياريًّا بقرار من الجمعية العمومية غير العادية ، وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام واللائحة الأساسية.
- Article 24
Those running an association that has been suspended, dissolved or merged by the Minister's decision may not liquidate it or dispose of its funds or documents except as the Regulations provide.
لا يجوز للقائمين على شؤون الجمعية التي صدر قرار من الوزير بتعليق نشاطها مؤقتاً أو حلها أو دمجها في جمعية أخرى؛ تصفيتها أو التصرف في أموالها أو مستنداتها ، إلاَّ
- Article 35
The article regulates voluntary dissolution or merger of an organization, the Ministry's powers to protect its funds in the Article 23 cases, the limits on dissolving it, and the requirement of a reasoned decision after a warning.
1- لا يجوز حل المؤسسة اختياريًّا أو دمجها في مؤسسة أخرى إلاَّ بموافقة المؤسس أو المؤسسين ، أو وفقاً لما تقضي به اللائحة الأساسية. 2 - تتخذ الوزارة - في الحالات
- Article 36
If an organization is dissolved under Article 35 and had received state aid or been allowed to collect donations, those funds are disposed of as the Regulations provide.
إذا حلت المؤسسة وفقاً للمادة (الخامسة والثلاثين) وكانت قد حصلت على إعانة من الدولة أو سمح لها بجمع تبرعات ، فيكون التصرف في الأموال المستحصلة من تلك الإعانات أو
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.