Article 1 of the Saudi Cooperative Societies Law
المادة 1 من نظام الجمعيات التعاونية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article defines the key terms in the Cooperative Societies Law, including the Ministry, the society, the general assembly, the board of directors, the member and the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية – أينما وردت في هذا النظام – المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك.
الوزارة : وزارة الشئون الاجتماعية.
الوزير: وزير الشئون الاجتماعية .
الجمعية : أي جمعية تعاونية مسجلة بموجب أحكام هذا النظام .
الجمعية العمومية : جميع الأعضاء المساهمين في رأس مال الجمعية التعاونية.
مجلس الإدارة : مجلس إدارة الجمعية التعاونية.
العضو: العضو المؤسس للجمعية، أو المنضم إليها بعد تأسيسها.
اللائحة : اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا 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 1 explained in plain English
This is the definitions article of the Cooperative Societies Law. The meanings in it are adopted wherever the terms appear in the Law, unless the context requires otherwise.
The authorities:
- The Ministry: the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Minister: the Minister of Social Affairs, according to the article's text.
- The Regulations: the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
The society and its bodies:
- The society: any cooperative society registered under the provisions of the Law. Registration is part of the definition, and an unregistered society does not fit this description.
- The general assembly: all the members who contribute to the capital of the cooperative society.
- The board of directors: the board of directors of the cooperative society.
The member: the founding member of the society, or one who joins it after its establishment. There is no difference in the description of membership between someone who founded the society and someone who joined later.
Note that the definition of the general assembly ties it to contributing to the capital, so it comprises all the contributing members.
As for the meaning of a «cooperative society» in terms of its purposes and nature, Article 2 deals with that, treating it as a society formed by individuals under the provisions of the Law with the aim of improving the economic and social condition of its members in production, consumption, marketing or services, through the joint efforts of the members and following cooperative principles, and requiring its name to indicate its cooperative character and the type of its work.
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 1 of the Saudi Cooperative Societies Law
Who is a member of a cooperative society?
The founding member of the society, or one who joins it after its establishment.
What is the general assembly of a cooperative society?
All the members who contribute to the capital of the cooperative society.
Which ministry is competent under the Law's text?
The article provides that the Ministry is the Ministry of Social Affairs.
More articles on Definition of the Cooperative Society and General Provisions
- Article 2
The article defines a cooperative society as one formed by individuals to improve its members' economic and social condition by following cooperative principles, and requires its name to indicate its cooperative character and the type of its work.
تعد جمعية تعاونية كُل جمعية يكوِّنها أفراد طِبقاً لأحكام هذا النِظام، بهدف تحسين الحالة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية لأعضائها ،سواء في نواحي الإنتاج، أم الاستِهلاك ،أ
- Article 41
The article provides that the relevant ministries exercise technical supervision over cooperative societies as to their activities.
تتولى الوزارات ذات العلاقة الإشراف الفني على الجمعيات، وذلك فيما يخص نشاطاتها.
- Article 42
The article authorizes the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations and the decisions needed to implement the Cooperative Societies Law, with the Regulations to be issued within 90 days of the Law's issuance and to apply from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة والقرارات اللازمة لتنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام، على أن تصدر اللائحة في مدة أقصاها (تسعون) يومًا من تاريخ صدوره، ويعمل بها من تاريخ العمل بالنظام.
- Article 43
The article provides that this Law replaces the Cooperative Societies Law issued by Decree No. 26 of 1382 AH and the Regulation on Subsidies to Cooperative Societies issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 419 of 1398 AH.
يحل هذا النظام محل نظام الجمعيات التعاونية، الصادر بالمرسوم ذي الرقم 26 والتاريخ 25 / 6 / 1382 هـ، وكذا لائحة إعانة الجمعيات التعاونية، الصادرة بقرار مجلس الوزر
- Article 44
The article provides that the Cooperative Societies Law is published in the Official Gazette and takes effect 90 days after its publication.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل به بعد (تسعين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره.
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.