Article 32 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 32 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires all births in the Kingdom, and all Saudi births abroad, to be reported within the periods set by the Civil Status Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب التبليغ عن جميع المواليد في المملكة وعن جميع المواليد السعوديين في الخارج خلال المدد المحددة في هذا النظام.
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 sets the general rule for reporting births, and covers two groups:
- All births in the Kingdom: whatever the nationality of the parents; the text is general and is not limited to Saudis.
- All Saudi births abroad.
Reporting must be made within the periods set by this Law; the Article does not state the period itself but refers to the Articles that set it.
Who must report? Article 33 answers in a set order:
- The child's father, if he is in the country on the day of birth or is present during the reporting period.
- The closest male relative of the newborn, aged seventeen or over, who lives with the mother in the same home.
- The closest male relative, aged seventeen or over, who does not live with her.
- The mayor of the locality or the tribal sheikh.
- The administrative governor in the village or center.
- Any person the Implementing Regulations make responsible.
Responsibility follows this order, and the responsibility of each group lapses if the group before it exists. Article 31, which comes before the provisions on births, also allows a special domicile to be chosen for receiving notices about particular transactions.
Practical example
Mohammed, an employee in Riyadh, had a child at a hospital in the city. Since he is in the country on the day of birth, he is the first person required to report the child within the period set by the Law, and responsibility passes to the male relatives only if the father is not present.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 32 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Is it mandatory to report a newborn?
Yes. All births in the Kingdom, and all Saudi births abroad, must be reported within the periods set by the Law.
Who is responsible for registering a newborn?
Under Article 33, first the father, if he is in the country on the day of birth or is present during the reporting period; then the male relatives aged seventeen or over, in order; then the mayor or tribal sheikh; then the administrative governor; then whoever the Implementing Regulations designate.
Does reporting cover births of foreigners in Saudi Arabia?
The text is general and covers all births in the Kingdom.
More articles on Birth Registration
- Article 8
The article requires the event registers for Saudis and foreigners to include a births register, a deaths register and a marriage and divorce register, and others may be added by decision of the Minister of Interior.
يجب أن تشمل سجلات الواقعات للسعوديين والأجانب سجلا لتسجيل المواليد وسجلا لتسجيل الوفيات وسجلا لتسجيل الزواج والطلاق، ويمكن إضافة غيرها من سجلات الواقعات للسعودي
- Article 34Amended (1422 AH)
The Article requires births to be reported at a civil status office within 15 days of birth, extended to 30 days if the birthplace is more than 50 kilometers away.
يكون التبليغ عن المواليد لدى مكتب من مكاتب الأحوال المدنية على النموذج المعد لذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الولادة. وتكون هذه المهلة ثلاثين يوما إذا حدثت الو
- Article 35
The Article requires a birth that occurs while traveling outside the Kingdom to be reported within 15 days of arrival, to the Saudi representation in the destination country or to any civil status office on return.
إذا حصلت الولادة أثناء السفر خارج المملكة وجب التبليغ عنها خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوصول، ويوجه التبليغ إلى الممثلية العربية السعودية في البلد الذي يقصده ا
- Article 36
As an exception, the Article allows a birth abroad in a place far from the Saudi representation to be reported by registered mail, provided a birth certificate from the competent authority containing the entry data is attached.
استثناء مما سبق إذا حصلت الولادة في الخارج في جهة بعيدة عن مقر الممثلية السعودية جاز التبليغ عنها بوساطة البريد المسجل بشرط أن يكون التبليغ مصحوبا بشهادة ميلاد
- Article 37
The Article requires twins to be reported each on his own and recorded separately, stating the hour and minute at which each was born.
يبلغ عن المواليد التوائم كل على انفراد ويقيد كل منهم على حدة مع الإشارة إلى الساعة والدقيقة التي ولد فيها كل منهم.
- Article 38Amended (1422 AH)
The Article requires the birth of a newborn who dies before being recorded to be registered, followed by his death, and requires a child born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy to be recorded in the register of deaths as stillborn.
إذا توفي مولود قبل قيده في السجل، وجب تسجيل ولادته ثم تسجيل وفاته. أما إذا ولد ميتا بعد الشهر السادس من الحمل فيقيد في سجل الوفيات بأنه ولد ميتا.
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.