Article 5 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 5 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
The supervising body approves the creation of associations and organizations within its competence as a step toward licensing, supervises their activity technically and follows it up, and works on developing them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى كل جهة مشرفة القيام بما يأتي :
1 - الموافقة على إنشاء الجمعيات والمؤسسات التي تدخل نشاطاتها ضمن اختصاصها؛ تمهيداً لاستكمال إجراءات الترخيص لها من الوزارة وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام.
2 - الإشراف الفني على ممارسة الجمعيات والمؤسسات لنشاطاتها ، ومتابعتها.
3 - العمل على تطوير الجمعيات والمؤسسات.
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 5 explained in plain English
The supervising body, under Article 1, is the government body within whose competence the association's or organization's activity falls. This Article sets out three tasks for it:
- Approving creation: it approves the creation of associations and organizations whose activities fall within its competence, as a preliminary step to completing licensing procedures with the Ministry. Its approval is a step before licensing and does not replace it.
- Technical supervision: technical supervision of how associations and organizations carry out their activities, and following them up.
- Development: working on developing them.
The difference between the supervising body's role and the Ministry's role in Article 4:
- The Ministry: licensing and general administrative and financial supervision.
- The supervising body: preliminary approval and technical supervision specialized in the nature of the activity.
The practical effect: someone who wants to found an association specialized in a particular field first needs the approval of the government body responsible for that field, and then completes the licensing procedures. After it comes Article 6, which confirms that licenses are issued after the supervising body's approval is obtained.
Practical example
A group of people interested in the environment in Tabuk wanted to found an environmental protection association. They first need the approval of the government body responsible for the environment as the supervising body, then they complete the licensing procedures, and after that the supervising body follows their activity technically.
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 5 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
What is the supervising body's role in creating an association?
It approves the creation of associations whose activities fall within its competence as a step toward completing licensing procedures.
Who supervises an association's activity technically?
The supervising body carries out technical supervision of how associations and organizations carry out their activities and follows them up.
More articles on Supervision of Civil Associations
- Article 4
The Article makes the Ministry the authority responsible for associations and organizations, with tasks including licensing, government subsidies, administrative and financial oversight, deciding mergers and spreading volunteering.
الوزارة هي السلطة المسؤولة عن شؤون الجمعيات والمؤسسات في حدود أحكام هـذا النـظام والأنظمة الأخرى ذات العلاقة ، ولها أن تتخذ ما تراه لازماً لتحقيق أهداف هذا النظ
- Article 6
The Ministry issues, amends and renews licenses for associations and organizations after coordinating with the competent body and the supervising body's approval, except university scientific associations, which follow their own rules.
تكون الوزارة هي المسؤولة عن إصدار التراخيص للجمعيات والمؤسسات ، وتعديلها وتجديدها ، وذلك بعد التنسيق مع الجهة المختصة وبعد الحصول على موافقة الجهة المشرفة ، عدا
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.