Article 89 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 89 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article makes population registers issued before the Law the basis for registering citizens in the central civil register unless their validity is doubted, and sets out the verification procedure.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون حفائظ النفوس الصادرة قبل نفاذ هذا النظام أساسا لقيد المواطنين السعوديين في السجل المدني المركزي ما لم يشك في صحتها، وعندئذ تحال إلى مصدرها لمطابقتها على أصولها والتأكد من صحتها، فإذا لم يمكن إثبات صحتها من السجلات فتحال إلى هيئة الأحوال المدنية للبت في صحتها أو سحبها واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة نحو معاقبة المسئولين عن ذلك.
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 89 explained in plain English
This article addresses the status of population registers (hafizat al-nufus) issued before the Civil Status Law took effect, and how they are used in building the central civil register.
The rule: earlier population registers are the basis for registering Saudi citizens in the central civil register, so the holder is not asked to prove his data again.
The exception: if the validity of the register is doubted, the following steps are taken:
- The register is referred to the body that issued it to compare it with its originals and confirm its validity.
- If its validity cannot be established from the records, it is referred to the Civil Status Authority.
- The Authority decides on its validity or withdraws it, and takes the necessary measures toward punishing those responsible.
The article does not specify the grounds for doubting validity or the penalties imposed on those responsible. Article 88 provides that the Implementing Regulations set the procedures required for the committees and the Authority to perform their work well, including submitting and deciding requests, grievances and appeals.
Article 90 complements this provision by setting the period during which population registers are relied on: they remain valid until they are withdrawn and a replacement is issued, within four years from the date the Law took effect, and when this period ends they are considered cancelled unless the Minister of Interior extends the deadline for replacing them.
Anyone whose register has been referred for verification, or is facing its withdrawal, would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in civil status and administrative cases.
Practical example
Abdullah has an old population register issued before the Law took effect. When he was registered in the central civil register, its data was accepted as the basis for registration. Had its validity been doubted, it would have been referred to the body that issued it to compare it with its originals, and if its validity could not be established from the records, it would have been referred to the Civil Status Authority to decide on it or withdraw it.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 89 of Civil Status Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Administrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 89 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Is an old population register accepted in the civil register?
Yes. Population registers issued before the Law took effect are the basis for registering Saudi citizens in the central civil register unless their validity is doubted.
What happens if the validity of a population register is doubted?
It is referred to its issuer to compare it with its originals; if its validity cannot be established from the records, it is referred to the Civil Status Authority to decide on its validity or withdraw it.
Who decides to withdraw a doubtful population register?
The Civil Status Authority, once its validity cannot be established from the records, and it also takes the necessary measures toward punishing those responsible.
More articles on Civil Register and Event Registers
- Article 1
The article names the law the Civil Status Law and explains that it is concerned with regulating the civil status of Saudi citizens and recording civil events of foreigners inside the Kingdom.
يسمى هذا النظام ( نظام الأحوال المدنية ) وتعنى أحكامه بما يلي: أ - ضبط الحالة المدنية لكل مواطن سعودي، وتسجيل كل ما يتصل بهذه الحالة من الواقعات المدنية التي تط
- Article 2Amended by M/198
The article defines the terms of the Civil Status Law, including event, civil status, registers and committees, and the personal ID card in both its physical and digital forms.
تدل المصطلحات التالية - حيثما وردت في هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية - على المعاني المدونة لكل منها: أ - المديرية : هي المديرية العامة للأحوال المدنية المسئولة عن
- Article 3
The article makes the civil status departments and offices the bodies that register civil statuses and events and issue personal ID cards and family record books under the law and its regulations.
تقوم إدارات ومكاتب الأحوال المدنية بتسجيل الحالات والواقعات المدنية وإصدار البطاقات الشخصية ودفاتر العائلة وفق أحكام هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية.
- Article 4
The article provides for establishing civil status offices by decision of the Minister of Interior as needed to assist the departments, with the decision determining the department to which each office is attached.
يعاون إدارات الأحوال المدنية في أداء مسئولياتها مكاتب للأحوال المدنية تنشأ بقرار من وزير الداخلية حسب مقتضى الحاجة، ويعين القرار إدارة الأحوال المدنية التي يتبع
- Article 5
The article makes the Kingdom's representations responsible for registering Saudis' events abroad and recognizes a foreign state's registration if it does not conflict with the Kingdom's laws, with a duty to enter it within 180 days.
تتولى ممثليات جلالة الملك مسئولية مكاتب الأحوال المدنية في الخارج فيما يتعلق بتسجيل الواقعات المدنية للسعوديين المقيمين في دائرة اختصاصها في الخارج، ومع هذا فكل
- Article 6
The article establishes a central civil register in which the civil status of every Saudi citizen, inside or outside the Kingdom, is recorded, under an arrangement approved by the Minister of Interior.
ينشأ بمقتضى هذا النظام سجل مدني مركزي تثبت فيه الحالة المدنية لكل مواطن سعودي سواء كان مقيما داخل المملكة أو خارجها، ويتم تنظيم هذا السجل وتصنيفه والقيد فيه وفق
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.