Article 6 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
المادة 6 من نظام حقوق كبير السن ورعايته
The article sets the order of family members who must support the needy elderly person, allows the elderly person to choose their caregiver, and gives the court the power to determine the caregiver where there is a dispute.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون إعالة كبير السن المحتاج على الزوج أو الزوجة إن رغبت، فإن تعذر ذلك فعلى أبيه إذا كان قادرًا ثم أحد أولاده الذكور، فإن تعذر ذلك فعلى أحد أحفاده الذكور، فإن تعذر ذلك فعلى أحد إخوته الذكور. ويجوز انتقال واجب الإعالة إلى من اختاره كبير السن منهم مع وجود من هو أولى منه. وفي حال عدم الاتفاق أو عدم قيام أيٍّ من أفراد الأسرة بالإعالة، فتتولى المحكمة المختصة تحديد العائل من أفراد أسرته، على أن يراعى في ذلك مصلحة كبير السن.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article answers the question: who bears the support of the needy elderly person? It sets a graduated order in which the duty passes to the next level only if the previous one cannot perform it:
- The husband or wife, with the wife qualified by the phrase "if willing".
- If that is not possible, the father if able, then one of the male children.
- If that is not possible, one of the male grandchildren.
- If that is not possible, one of the male brothers.
The article adds two important provisions:
- The elderly person's choice: the duty of support may pass to whichever of these the elderly person chooses, even where there is someone with priority over that person in the order.
- The role of the court: if they do not agree, or none of the family members provides support, the competent court determines the caregiver from among the family, taking into account the interest of the elderly person.
This rule applies to the "needy" elderly person as defined in Article 5, that is, someone wholly or partly unable to secure the necessities of life because of a shortfall in financial, physical, psychological or mental capacities. As for the amount of maintenance, Article 7 refers to the requirements of Sharia maintenance. Anyone party to a dispute over support should consult a lawyer specializing in personal status cases and the rights of the elderly.
Practical example
Mohammed is a 72-year-old man in Al-Qassim, and is needy; his wife has died, and he has a son in Buraidah and a brother in Unaizah. Under the order, the duty falls on his father if able and then on one of his male children, but Mohammed prefers to live with his brother, so the duty of support may pass to the brother he chose even though the son has priority over him in the order. If they do not agree or no one provides support, the competent court determines the caregiver in a way that takes Mohammed's interest into account.
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 6 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law
Who is responsible for supporting a needy elderly person?
Support falls on the husband or wife if willing, then on the father if able and then one of the male children, then one of the male grandchildren, then one of the male brothers.
Can an elderly person choose who supports them?
Yes, the duty of support may pass to whichever of the listed family members the elderly person chooses, even where someone else has priority over that person.
What happens if everyone refuses to support the elderly person?
If they do not agree or none of the family members provides support, the competent court determines the caregiver from among the family, taking their interest into account.
More articles on Support and Maintenance of the Elderly
- 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 3
The article recognizes the elderly person's right to live with their family, and requires the family to house and care for them in the order set out in Article 6.
لكبير السن حق العيش مع أسرته، وعليها إيواؤه ورعايته، وتكون المسؤولية في ذلك على أفراد الأسرة وفقًا للتسلسل المنصوص عليه في المادة (السادسة) من النظام.
- Article 5
The article treats an elderly person as needy if they are wholly or partly unable to secure the necessities of life because of a shortfall in their financial, physical, psychological or mental capacities.
لأغراض تطبيق أحكام النظام، يعد كبير السن محتاجًا إذا كان غير قادر على أن يؤمّن لنفسه ضروريات الحياة كليًّا أو جزئيًّا نتيجة لقصور في قدراته المالية أو البدنية أ
- Article 7
The article makes the maintenance for the care of a needy elderly person subject to the requirements of Sharia maintenance.
تكون نفقة رعاية كبير السن المحتاج وفقًا لمقتضيات النفقة الشرعية.
- Article 8
The article provides that the Ministry pays what helps a caregiver who cannot afford the care of a needy elderly person where no one in the family is able to support them, as the Regulations determine.
إذا عجز العائل عن توفير نفقة رعاية كبير السن المحتاج، ولم يكن في أسرته من هو قادر على إعالته؛ فيصرف له من الوزارة ما يساعده على ذلك، وذلك وفقًا لما تحدده اللائح
- Article 9
The article obliges the caregiver to protect the rights of the needy elderly person in accordance with Sharia and legal requirements.
يحمي العائل حقوق كبير السن المحتاج وفقًا للمقتضى الشرعي والنظامي.
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.