Article 4 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
المادة 4 من نظام مجلس الوزراء
Article 4 bars Council members from starting work before taking a set oath of loyalty to the religion, the King and the country, and of keeping State secrets.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يباشر أعضاء مجلس الوزراء أعمالهم إلا بعد أداء اليمين الآتية: "أقسم بالله العظيم أن أكون مخلصا لديني، ثم لمليكي، وبلادي، وأن لا أبوح بسر من أسرار الدولة، وأن أحافظ على مصالحها وأنظمتها، وأن أؤدي أعمالي بالصدق والأمانة والإخلاص".
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 4 explained in plain English
This article makes taking the oath a condition for starting work: a member of the Council of Ministers may not begin his duties until he takes the oath in the wording given in the text.
The wording of the oath includes several commitments the member undertakes:
- Loyalty to the religion, then to the King, and to the country.
- Not to divulge any State secret.
- To protect the State's interests and laws.
- To perform his work with honesty, trustworthiness and sincerity.
What matters in the article is that it links starting work to taking the oath; the member does not begin work before it. The text does not specify before whom the oath is taken or its ceremony, so these should not be assumed.
This article follows Article 3, which requires a member to be Saudi by origin and birth, known for righteousness and competence, and not sentenced for a crime involving breach of religion or honor, and precedes Article 5, which bars combining membership of the Council with any other government post unless the Prime Minister considers necessity requires it.
The wording of the oath reveals the basic duties expected of a minister, which are both moral and legal at once.
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 4 of the Saudi Council of Ministers Law
Does a minister start work as soon as the appointment order is issued?
Article 4 provides that members of the Council of Ministers may not begin their work until they take the oath specified in it.
What is the text of the oath of Council of Ministers members?
The oath is: "I swear by Almighty God to be loyal to my religion, then to my King and my country, not to divulge any State secret, to protect its interests and laws, and to perform my work with honesty, trustworthiness and sincerity."
Does the oath oblige a minister to keep State secrets?
Yes, one of its phrases is that the member will not divulge any State secret.
More articles on Conditions and Duties of Council Membership
- Article 3
Article 3 requires a Council member to be Saudi by origin and birth, known for righteousness and competence, and not sentenced for a crime involving breach of religion or honor.
يشترط في عضو مجلس الوزراء ما يلي: أ - أن يكون سعودي الجنسية بالأصل والمنشأ. ب - أن يكون من المشهود لهم بالصلاح والكفاية. ج - أن لا يكون محكوما عليه بجريمة مخلة
- Article 5
Article 5 bars combining membership of the Council of Ministers with any other government post unless the Prime Minister considers necessity requires it.
لا يجوز الجمع بين عضوية مجلس الوزراء وأية وظيفة حكومية أخرى، إلا إذا رأى رئيس مجلس الوزراء أن الضرورة تدعو إلى ذلك.
- Article 6
Article 6 bars a Council member, during membership, from buying or leasing State property, from selling or leasing his own property to the Government, and from commercial or financial activity or company board membership.
لا يجوز لعضو مجلس الوزراء أثناء تولية العضوية أن يشتري أو يستأجر مباشرة أو بالواسطة أو بالمزاد العام أيا كان من أملاك الدولة، كما لا يجوز له بيع أو إيجار أي شيء
- Article 17
Article 17 provides that Council members are tried for violations in their official work under a special law that sets out the violations, the procedures for accusation and trial, and how the court panel is formed.
يحاكم أعضاء مجلس الوزراء عن المخالفات التي يرتكبونها في أعمالهم الرسمية بموجب نظام خاص يتضمن بيان المخالفات وتحديد إجراءات الاتهام والمحاكمة وكيفية تأليف هيئة ا
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.