Article 14 of the Saudi Emergency Law

المادة 14 من نظام الطوارئ · الفصل السابع: أوامر الطوارئ

This article makes emergency orders effective from their date of issue unless they set another date, and they end on their stated dates or when the state of emergency ends or is terminated, whichever is earlier.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

تكون أوامر الطوارئ نافذة من تاريخ صدورها؛ ما لم يُنص فيها على تاريخ آخر، وينتهي العمل بها في التواريخ المحددة فيها، أو بانتهاء أو إنهاء حالة الطوارئ وفقًا لأحكام النظام، أيهما أسبق.

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 14 explained in plain English

This article sets the start and end in time of the emergency orders issued under Article 12.

Start of effect:

The rule is that an emergency order is effective from its date of issue.
Unless it states another date.

End of effect: an emergency order ceases to apply on one of two occasions, whichever is earlier:

The dates stated in it, if the order itself sets a period for its application.
The end or termination of the state of emergency in accordance with the provisions of the law.

“Whichever is earlier” means that an emergency order cannot continue after the state of emergency ends, even if the date stated in it is later. Conversely, an emergency order may end before the state does if an earlier date is stated in it.

This is linked to Article 7, which sets the duration of a state of emergency and provides that, if the royal order does not state its duration, it ends after 6 months pass unless a royal order ends it before that or extends it. The end of the state also ends the emergency orders.

But the end of the order's application does not erase all its effects: Article 10 provides that the end of a state of emergency does not affect rights acquired during it, or the completion of procedures begun under emergency orders unless otherwise provided or a final judgment is issued. Anyone who needs to determine whether a particular emergency order is still in force can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.

Practical example

An emergency order was issued stating that it applies for three months, and then a royal order was issued ending the state of emergency after two months. The emergency order ceases to apply when the state ends, because that is earlier.

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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