Article 32 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 32 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
The board of trustees manages the organization under the Law, the Regulations and the articles of association, and its chairman represents it before the courts and others, and may delegate this with the board's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتولى مجلس الأمناء إدارة المؤسسة وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة واللائحة الأساسية ، ويمثلها رئيس المجلس أمام القضاء وأمام غيره ، ولرئيس المجلس بعد موافقة مجلس الأمناء أن يفوض في هذا الاختصاص من يراه.
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 determines who manages the civil society organization and who represents it:
First: management. The board of trustees manages the organization, according to three levels of rules:
- The provisions of the Law.
- The Implementing Regulations.
- The organization's articles of association.
Second: representation. The organization is represented by the chairman of the board of trustees:
- Before the courts: he is the one who files cases in its name and through whom cases are brought against it.
- Before others: such as government bodies, banks and counterparties.
Third: delegation. The chairman may delegate this authority to whomever he sees fit, but only with the approval of the board of trustees. The chairman cannot delegate alone.
In practice: anyone who deals with a civil society organization or litigates with it must verify that the person representing it is the chairman of the board of trustees or someone delegated by him with the board's approval.
This article is preceded by Article 31, on forming and appointing the board of trustees. Anyone who needs to file a case on behalf of or against an organization should consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases or non-profit sector law.
Practical example
A dispute arose between a civil society organization in Riyadh and a contractor who built a building for it. The organization is represented before the court by the chairman of the board of trustees, or by someone he delegates with the board's approval, such as the organization's manager or a lawyer.
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 Society Associations Law
Who represents a civil society organization before the courts?
Its chairman of the board of trustees represents it before the courts and others.
May the chairman of the board of trustees delegate someone else?
Yes, with the approval of the board of trustees, he may delegate this authority to whomever he sees fit.
Who manages a civil society organization?
The board of trustees manages it under the Law, the Regulations and the articles of association.
More articles on Civil Organizations and the Board of Trustees
- Article 29
This article gives the sources of a civil society organization's resources, the funds, endowments, gifts and bequests allocated by its founder or founders, and allows it to receive donations after Ministry approval.
تتكون موارد المؤسسة مما يخصصه لها المؤسس أو المؤسسون من أموال ، أو أوقاف ، أو هبات ، أو وصايا ، ويجوز لها استقبال التبرعات بعد موافقة الوزارة.
- Article 30
This article lists the details the organization's articles of association must contain: name, area and headquarters, founders, purpose, voluntary dissolution cases, allocated funds and their fate on dissolution, and rules on the board of trustees and executive officer.
يجب أن تشمل اللائحة الأساسية للمؤسسة البيانات الآتية : 1 - اسم المؤسسة ، ونطاق عملها الجغرافي ، ومقرها الرئيس. 2 - اسم المؤسس أو أسماء المؤسسين ، وبياناتهم الشخ
- Article 31
Every organization must have a board of trustees of at least three members, appointed by the founder or founders or whoever the articles of association designate; the Ministry is notified of appointments and changes, and steps in if a replacement cannot be appointed.
يكون لكل مؤسسة مجلس أمناء من ثلاثة أعضاء على الأقل يعينهم المؤسس أو المؤسسون أو من يعهد إليه بذلك بموجب اللائحة الأساسية ، وتبلغ الوزارة بالتعيين ، وبكل تعديل ي
- Article 33
A civil society organization must have an annual budget and a final account, though with the Ministry's approval a statement of revenues, expenses and spending of funds may suffice in place of the final account.
تكون للمؤسـسة ميزانية سنوية ، وحساب ختامي ، ويجوز - بعد موافقة الوزارة - أن يكتفى عنه ببيان يتضمن إيراداتها ومصروفاتها ، وأوجه إنفاق أموالها بحسب طبيعة المال ال
- Article 34
The Ministry must keep a special register of civil society organizations; the Regulations set its provisions, the registration procedures and the details to be recorded.
تُعِد الوزارة سجلاًّ خاصًّا بالمؤسسات ، وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المتعلقة بهذا السجل ، وإجراءات التسجيل فيه ، والبيانات اللازم تسجيلها.
- 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
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.