Article 20 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
المادة 20 من نظام حقوق كبير السن ورعايته
The article punishes private or non-profit care homes that breach Article 4, and providers of public services that breach Articles 11 and 13, with a fine of up to SAR 100,000, and regulates the review committee, challenges and enforcement.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تعاقب دور الرعاية الاجتماعية الخاصة أو الأهلية المخالفة لحكم المادة (الرابعة) من النظام، ومن يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عن الجهة الحكومية المخالفة لحكم المادتين (الحادية عشرة) و(الثالثة عشرة) من النظام؛ بغرامة لا تزيد على (مائة ألف) ريال.
2- تكوّن بقرار من الوزير لجنة أو أكثر، لا يقل عدد أعضائها عن (ثلاثة) يكون أحدهم مستشارًا نظاميًّا، تتولى النظر في مخالفة أحكام المواد (الرابعة) و(الحادية عشرة) و(الثالثة عشرة) من النظام، وتوقيع العقوبة المنصوص عليها، وترفع قرارها إلى الوزير أو من يفوضه لاعتماده، ويجوز لمن صدر ضده قرار بالعقوبة التظلم منه أمام المحكمة الإدارية.
3- يتولى من يصدر بتسميته قرار من الوزير ضبط المخالفات المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article regulates the Law's administrative violations, and consists of three paragraphs:
1- The fine: a fine of up to SAR 100,000 is imposed on:
- Private or non-profit social care homes that breach Article 4, which prevents housing an elderly person except with their consent, by court judgment, or in cases that endanger their life or safety under the Regulations' controls.
- Anyone providing a public service on behalf of the government body that breaches Article 11 (priority for the elderly in essential services) or Article 13 (a discount for the needy elderly person on public services).
2- The review committee: one or more committees are formed by decision of the Minister, with no fewer than 3 members, one of whom is a legal adviser. The committee reviews violations of Articles 4, 11 and 13 and imposes the penalty, and submits its decision to the Minister or their delegate for approval. Anyone against whom a penalty decision is issued may challenge it before the administrative court.
3- Enforcement: violations set out in paragraph 1 are detected by those designated by decision of the Minister.
Note that paragraph 1 refers to private or non-profit homes and to those who provide the service on behalf of the government body. This route differs from violations of Articles 3 and 15, which the Public Prosecution investigates under Article 19. Anyone against whom a fine decision has been issued and who wants to challenge it should consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
A non-profit care home in Riyadh accepted an 80-year-old man at the request of his nephew, without his consent, a court judgment, or a case of danger. The committee formed by decision of the Minister reviews the violation, and may impose on the home a fine of up to SAR 100,000; the Minister or their delegate approves the decision, and the home may challenge it before the administrative court.
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 20 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
What is the penalty for a care home that houses an elderly person without their consent?
Private or non-profit care homes that breach Article 4 are punished with a fine of up to SAR 100,000.
Who reviews violations by care homes and service providers?
One or more committees formed by decision of the Minister, with no fewer than 3 members, one of whom is a legal adviser, and which submit their decision to the Minister or their delegate for approval.
Can a fine decision be objected to?
Yes, anyone against whom a penalty decision is issued may challenge it before the administrative court.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 4
The article prevents social care homes from housing an elderly person except with their consent, by court judgment, or in cases endangering their life or safety under the Regulations' controls.
لا يجوز لدور الرعاية الاجتماعية لكبير السن إيواء كبير السن فيها إلا بعد موافقته، أو بعد صدور حكم قضائي بذلك، أو في الحالات التي تشكل خطورة على حياة كبير السن أو
- Article 11
The article requires the government body and anyone providing a public service on its behalf to give the elderly person priority in essential services, particularly health and social services, as the Regulations determine.
على الجهة الحكومية ومن يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عنها إعطاء كبير السن أولوية في الحصول على الخدمات الأساسية التي تقدمها، وبخاصة الخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية؛ وذلك وفق
- Article 13
The article requires the government body and anyone providing a public service on its behalf to give the needy elderly person a discount on its public services, within its powers and as the Regulations determine.
تمنح الجهة الحكومية أو من يقدم خدمة عامة نيابةً عنها لكبير السن المحتاج –في حدود الصلاحيات المخولة لها نظاماً- خصماً على الخدمات العامة التي تقدمها؛ وذلك وفقاً
More articles on Elderly Care Homes
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Elderly Rights and Care Law, chiefly that an elderly person is any citizen aged 60 or over.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها: 1- النظام: نظام حقوق كبير السن ورعايته. 2- اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية لل
- Article 4
The article prevents social care homes from housing an elderly person except with their consent, by court judgment, or in cases endangering their life or safety under the Regulations' controls.
لا يجوز لدور الرعاية الاجتماعية لكبير السن إيواء كبير السن فيها إلا بعد موافقته، أو بعد صدور حكم قضائي بذلك، أو في الحالات التي تشكل خطورة على حياة كبير السن أو
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.