Article 3 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 3 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
The Article classifies civil society entities into non-profit associations with continuing organization for many purposes, and organizations that depend on their founders' funds; family and civil funds count as organizations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصنف الجمعيات والمؤسسات لأغراض هذا النظام وفق الآتي :
1 - الجمعيات الأهلية :
تعد جمعية أهلية - في تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام - كل مجموعة ذات تنظيم مستمر لمدة معينة أو غير معينة ، مؤلفة من أشخاص من ذوي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية ، أو منهما معاً ، غير هادفة للربح أساساً ، وذلك من أجل تحقيق غرض من أغراض البر أو التكافل ، أو من أجل نشاط ديني تحدده وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية والأوقاف والدعوة والإرشاد ، أو نشاط اجتماعي ، أو ثقافي ، أو صحي ، أو بيئي ، أو تربوي ، أو تعليمي ، أو علمي ، أو مهني ، أو إبداعي ، أو شبابي ، أو سياحي ، ونحو ذلك من نشاطات ، أو نشاط يتعلق بحماية المستهلك ، أو أي نشاط أهلي آخر تقدره الوزارة ، سواء كان ذلك عن طريق العون المادي ، أو المعنوي ، أو الخبرات الفنية أو غيرها ، وسواء كان النشاط موجهاً إلى خدمة العامة كجمعيات النفع العام ، أم كان موجهاً في الأساس إلى خدمة أصحاب تخصص أو مهنة كالجمعيات المهنية والجمعيات العلمية والجمعيات الأدبية.
2 - المؤسسات الأهلية :
يعد مؤسسة أهلية - في تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام - أي كيان مستمر لمدة معينة أو غير معينة ، يؤسسه شخص أو أشخاص من ذوي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية أو منهما معاً ، غير هادف للربح أساساً ، وذلك من أجل تحقيق غرض أو أكثر من أغراض النفع العام أو المخصص ، ويعتمد على ما يخصصه له المؤسس أو المؤسسون من أموال ، أو أوقاف ، أو هبات أو وصايا ، وتعد الصناديق العائلية والأهلية بأنواعها مؤسسات أهلية ، وتحدد اللائحة ما يدخل ضمن تلك الصناديق ، على أن تضع كل جهة مشرفة على صندوق تنظيماً له يتوافق مع هذا النظام ولا يرتب التزاماً على الدولة ، وذلك بعد موافقة الجهة المختصة، والوزارة.
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 3 explained in plain English
This Article distinguishes between two types of civil society entities:
First: the civil society association. Any group with continuing organization, for a fixed or unfixed period, made up of natural or legal persons or both, not essentially aimed at profit, to achieve a purpose of:
- Charity or solidarity.
- A religious activity determined by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
- A social, cultural, health, environmental, educational, teaching, scientific, professional, creative, youth or tourism activity, or consumer protection, or any other civil activity the Ministry assesses.
Its activity may be directed to serving the public, as in public-benefit associations, or to serving those of a specialization or profession, as in professional, scientific and literary associations.
Second: the civil society organization. A continuing entity founded by a person or persons, not essentially aimed at profit, for one or more public-benefit or designated purposes, and dependent on funds, endowments, gifts or bequests that its founders allocate to it.
Family and civil funds of all kinds count as civil society organizations; the Regulations determine what falls within them, and each body supervising a fund sets an arrangement for it that is consistent with the Law and creates no obligation on the State, after the approval of the competent body and the Ministry.
So the essential difference is: the association rests on members, while the organization rests on funds allocated by its founders.
Practical example
Members of a family in Al-Ahsa wanted to set up a fund into which they would pool their contributions to help needy members of the family. This family fund counts as a civil society organization under the Law and is subject to its provisions and to the arrangement set by its supervising body.
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 3 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
What is the difference between a civil society association and a civil society organization?
An association is a group of members with continuing organization, while an organization is an entity that depends on funds, endowments, gifts or bequests its founders allocate to it.
Is a family fund subject to the civil society associations law?
Yes. Family and civil funds of all kinds count as civil society organizations, and the Regulations determine what falls within them.
May a civil society association aim at profit?
No. The definition requires it not to be essentially aimed at profit.
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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.