Article 16 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
المادة 16 من نظام مجلس الوزراء
Article 16 makes the Council of Ministers' deliberations secret, with its decisions public as a rule except those the Council treats as secret by its own decision.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مداولات المجلس سرية أما قراراته فالأصل فيها العلنية عدا ما اعتبر منها سريا بقرار من المجلس.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article distinguishes between two matters in the Council of Ministers' work:
- Deliberations: that is, discussions and exchanges of views within the session, which are always secret by the text, with no exception.
- Decisions: the rule is that they are public, except those the Council treats as secret by a decision of its own.
So the rule is that what is discussed is not disclosed, while the final result, that is, the decision, is as a rule made public. The secrecy of a decision is not something to be presumed; it requires a Council decision treating it as secret.
This article has practical importance for the ordinary reader: decisions affect people's lives and businesses, and the fact that publicity is the rule allows access to them. The article does not specify the way or means of announcing decisions, so that should not be assumed from it.
This article follows Article 15, which prevents the Council from taking a decision on a matter concerning a ministry's work except in the presence of its minister or his deputy unless necessity requires, and precedes Article 17, which provides that members of the Council are tried for violations committed in their official work under a special law.
Practical example
Ahmed wanted to know what was discussed in the Council of Ministers about a decision published on regulating a certain sector. Article 16 makes clear that deliberations are secret and not disclosed, while the decision itself is public as a rule unless the Council treats it as secret by its own decision.
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 16 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
Are Council of Ministers decisions public?
As a rule they are public, except those the Council treats as secret by its own decision.
Can the Council of Ministers' deliberations be accessed?
No, Article 16 provides that the Council's deliberations are secret.
How does a Council of Ministers decision become secret?
By the Council treating it as secret by its own decision, as Article 16 provides.
More articles on Council of Ministers Sessions and Voting
- Article 7
Article 7 provides that Council of Ministers meetings are held under the presidency of the King or a Deputy Prime Minister, and that its decisions become final once the King approves them.
تعقد اجتماعات مجلس الوزراء برئاسة الملك رئيس المجلس أو أحد نواب الرئيس وتصبح قراراته نهائية بعد موافقة الملك عليها.
- Article 13
Article 13 limits attendance at Council of Ministers meetings to its members and Secretary General, allows an official or expert to attend with the Prime Minister's approval to give information, and keeps voting to members only.
حضور اجتماعات مجلس الوزراء حق خاص بأعضائه فقط وبالأمين العام لمجلس الوزراء ، ويجوز بناء على طلب الرئيس أو أحد الأعضاء بعد موافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء السماح لأحد ا
- Article 14
Article 14 requires two thirds of the members present for a valid Council of Ministers meeting and decisions by a majority of those present with the head's vote deciding ties, and sets a different quorum for exceptional cases.
لا يعتبر اجتماع مجلس الوزراء صحيحا إلا بحضور ثلثي أعضائه ولا تكون قراراته نظامية إلا بعد صدورها بأغلبية الحاضرين وفي حالة التساوي يعتبر صوت الرئيس مرجحا، وفي ال
- Article 15
Article 15 bars the Council of Ministers from deciding a matter concerning a ministry's work except in the presence of its minister or his deputy, unless necessity requires otherwise.
لا يتخذ مجلس الوزراء قرارا في موضوع خاص بأعمال وزارة من الوزارات إلا بحضور وزيرها أو من ينوب عنه ما لم تدع الضرورة لذلك.
- Article 18
Article 18 allows the Council of Ministers to form committees from its members or others to examine a matter on its agenda and give a special report on it, with the internal rules setting the number of committees and how they work.
يجوز لمجلس الوزراء أن يؤلف لجانا من بين أعضائه أو من غيرهم لبحث مسألة مدرجة بجدول أعماله لتقديم تقرير خاص عنها ويتولى النظام الداخلي للمجلس بيان عدد اللجان وسير
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.