Article 8 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
المادة 8 من نظام الجمعيات والمؤسسات الأهلية
An application to create an association is submitted by at least 10 Saudis with its basic regulation; the Ministry must reply within 60 days or approval is deemed given, and the association gains legal personality after approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يقدم طلب إنشاء الجمعية - مصحوباً بنسخة من اللائحة الأساسية - من عدد لا يقل عن عشرة أشخاص سعوديين من ذوي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية ، ويشترط في الشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية أن يكون كامل الأهلية ، ولم يصدر حكم نهائي بإدانته في جريمة مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة ، ما لم يكن قد رُدّ إليه اعتباره.
2 - لا يجوز الموافقة على إنشاء الجمعية إذا تضمنت لائحتها الأساسية أحكاماً تتعارض مع أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ، أو تخالف النظام العام ، أو تتنافى مع الآداب العامة ، أو تخل بالوحدة الوطنية ، أو تتعارض مع أحكام النظام أو اللائحة أو غيرهما من الأنظمة واللوائح.
3 - على الوزارة الرد على طلب إنشاء الجمعية خلال (ستين) يوماً من تاريخ استكمال مسوغات الطلب المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام والإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة ، ويعد عدم الرد خلال هذه المدة بمثابة موافقة على إنشائها.
4 - تكون للجمعية شخصية اعتبارية بعد موافقة الوزارة على إنشائها ، وتنشر لائحتها الأساسية في وسائل الإعلام التي تحددها اللائحة ، ولا يجوز لأي جمعية ممارسة أي نشاط من نشاطاتها إلا بعد إتمام إجراءات تأسيسها وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 8 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the steps for founding a civil society association:
First: the application and the founders.
- The application is submitted accompanied by a copy of the basic regulation.
- By at least 10 Saudis, natural or legal persons.
- A natural person must have full legal capacity and must not have been finally convicted of a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, unless his standing has been restored.
Second: grounds for refusal. Approval may not be given if the basic regulation contains provisions that conflict with Islamic Shari'ah, violate public order, are inconsistent with public morals, undermine national unity, or conflict with the Law or the Regulations or other laws and regulations.
Third: the time to reply. The Ministry must reply within 60 days of the date the application's supporting documents and the procedures set by the Regulations are completed. Failure to reply within this period is deemed approval. The period starts from completion of the documents, not from merely submitting the application.
Fourth: legal personality. The association acquires it after approval of its creation, and its basic regulation is published in the media the Regulations specify. It may not carry on any activity before completing the procedures for its establishment.
Anyone whose application is refused and believes the refusal does not rest on these grounds should consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Twelve citizens in Medina met to found an association for orphan care and submitted the application with the basic regulation. The application's documents were complete on the first of Muharram, and they received no reply within 60 days; that is deemed approval of the creation, but they may not begin activity before completing the establishment procedures.
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 8 of the Saudi Civil Society Associations Law
How many people are needed to found a civil society association?
At least 10 Saudis, natural or legal persons.
How long does the Ministry have to reply to an application to found an association?
60 days from the date the application's supporting documents are completed, and failure to reply within it is deemed approval of the creation.
May someone with a conviction be a founder?
Not if a final judgment convicted him of a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, unless his standing has been restored.
When may the association begin its activity?
It may not carry on any activity until the procedures for its establishment are completed under the Law and the Regulations.
More articles on Establishing a Civil Association
- Article 9
The Article lists what an association's basic regulation must contain, including name, purpose, membership, resources, a board term of no more than four years, and rules for dissolution and the destination of its funds.
يجب أن تشمل اللائحة الأساسية البيانات والأحكام الأساسية المتعلقة بالجمعية ، وعلى وجه خاص ما يأتي : 1 - اسم الجمعية ومقرها الرئيس ، والنطاق الجغرافي لخدماتها. 2
- Article 10
An association may create branches inside the Kingdom after the Ministry's approval, and its basic regulation sets how the branches are formed, their powers and other provisions.
يجوز للجمعية أن تنشئ لها فروعاً داخل المملكة بعد موافقة الوزارة على ذلك ، وتحدد اللائحة الأساسية طريقة تكوين هذه الفروع واختصاصاتها ، وغير ذلك من الأحكام المتعل
- Article 11
A civil society association consists of four bodies: the general assembly, the board of directors, standing committees whose powers are set by their formation decision, and the executive body.
تتكون الجمعية من الأجهزة الآتية : 1 - الجمعية العمومية. 2 - مجلس الإدارة. 3 - اللجان الدائمة التي تكوّنها الجمعية العمومية ، أو مجلس الإدارة ، على أن يحدد اختصا
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.