Article 96 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 96 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The article requires the Civil Status Law to be published in the Official Gazette and to take effect one year after the date of its publication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل به بعد مضي سنة من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية
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 96 explained in plain English
This article sets how and when the Civil Status Law begins to apply, and contains two provisions:
- Publication: the Law is published in the Official Gazette.
- Taking effect: the Law is not applied as soon as it is published, but after one year has passed from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
This means there is a one-year period between publication and taking effect. The article does not state the purpose of this period, and does not specify the date of publication itself, so the issue of the Official Gazette in which the Law was published must be consulted.
Related articles include:
- Article 95, which provides that the Law repeals the Population Department Law issued by Royal Order No. 8172 dated 15/7/1358 AH, the Births and Deaths Law issued by Royal Decree No. 2 dated 11/1/1382 AH, and everything that conflicts with it, with Royal Decree No. M/52 dated 3/9/1405 AH continuing to apply until the Council of Ministers issues a decision setting general rules for amending the date of birth.
Article One also states what the provisions of the Law are concerned with: regulating the civil status of every Saudi citizen and recording the civil events connected with it in the designated register, and recording the civil events that occur to foreigners inside the Kingdom in the register designated for that. These are the provisions that begin to apply once the stated year has passed.
Anyone with an event that occurred close to the date of taking effect, who needs to know which law applies to it, would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in civil status cases.
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 96 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
When does the Civil Status Law take effect?
It takes effect after one year has passed from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Where was the Civil Status Law published?
The article provides for its publication in the Official Gazette.
Does the Law apply from the date of its publication?
No. The article provides that it takes effect after one year has passed from the date of publication.
More articles on Definitions in the Civil Status Law
- 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 86
The article establishes a central authority in the General Directorate of Civil Status, chaired by the Director General, with a counselor from the Board of Grievances, a legal adviser and a physician.
تشكل في المديرية العامة للأحوال المدنية هيئة مركزية مكونة من: أ - المدير العام للأحوال المدنية رئيساً ب - مستشار من ديوان المظالم يعينه رئيس ديوان المظالم عضواً
- Article 88
The article leaves to the Implementing Regulations the procedures for the work of the committees and the Civil Status Authority, including submitting and deciding requests, grievances and appeals.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية الإجراءات التي يستلزمها حسن أداء اللجان والهيئة لأعمالها بما في ذلك إجراء التقدم بالطلبات والتظلمات والطعون والفصل فيها.
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.