Article 35 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 35 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الواردة في المادة (الثالثة والعشرين) - ما يلزم للمحافظة على أموال المؤسسة واستمرارها ، ولها في سبيل ذلك عزل مجلس أمناء المؤسسة أو أي من المسؤولين التنفيذيين فيها ، أو تعليق نشاطها مؤقتاً ، على أنه لا يجوز حل المؤسسة إلاَّ في حالة ثبوت عجزها عن الوفاء بالتزاماتها المالية أو استحالة تحقيقها لأهدافها ، مع التقيد في كل الأحوال بوصية المؤسس أو المؤسسين وشروطهم وبما تقضي به اللائحة الأساسية.
3 - يصدر أي إجراء تتخذه الوزارة - استناداً إلى الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة - بقرار مسبَّب من الوزير بعد إنذار المؤسسة.
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 35 explained in plain English
This article deals with the fate of a civil society organization in two different situations:
First: voluntary dissolution or merger. An organization may not be dissolved voluntarily or merged into another organization except with the approval of the founder or founders, or as the organization's articles of association provide.
Second: Ministry intervention. In the cases set out in Article 23, namely that its members fall below five, it departs from its objectives or commits serious violations of the Law, the Regulations or the articles of association, it is 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, the Ministry takes whatever is necessary to preserve the organization's funds and its continuity, and it may:
- Dismiss the board of trustees or any of the executive officials.
- Temporarily suspend the organization's activity.
But the article specifically restricts dissolution: an organization may not be dissolved unless it is established that it is unable to meet its financial obligations or that it is impossible for it to achieve its objectives, always adhering to the will and conditions of the founder or founders and to the articles of association.
Procedural safeguard: any measure the Ministry takes under paragraph 2 is issued by a reasoned decision of the Minister after warning the organization. In this the organization differs from an association, which Article 23 allows to be dissolved in any of its cases, since dissolution of an organization is limited to the two cases mentioned.
If you have a specific case concerning an organization or association, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in non-profit sector and civil society association law.
Practical example
The Ministry found that the board of trustees of a civil society organization in Dammam had spent part of its funds other than for their designated purposes. It warned the organization, and then a reasoned decision was issued by the Minister dismissing the board of trustees to preserve its funds. The organization cannot be dissolved in this case unless it is established that it is unable to meet its financial obligations or that achieving its objectives is impossible.
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 35 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
Can a civil society organization be dissolved without the founder's approval?
Voluntary dissolution or merger requires the approval of the founder or founders, or must follow the articles of association. Ministry intervention has its own cases and limits in paragraph 2.
When may the Ministry dissolve an organization?
It may not be dissolved unless it is established that it is unable to meet its financial obligations or that achieving its objectives is impossible, while adhering to the founders' will and conditions and the articles of association.
Can the board of trustees of an organization be dismissed?
Yes. In the Article 23 cases the Ministry may dismiss the board of trustees or any executive official, by a reasoned decision of the Minister after warning the organization.
Articles this article refers to
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 32
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.
يتولى مجلس الأمناء إدارة المؤسسة وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة واللائحة الأساسية ، ويمثلها رئيس المجلس أمام القضاء وأمام غيره ، ولرئيس المجلس بعد موافقة مجلس الأ
- 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.
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.