Article 9 of the Saudi Emergency Law
المادة 9 من نظام الطوارئ · الفصل الخامس: إعلان حالة الطوارئ
This article provides that the mere declaration of a state of emergency gives no one a right against the Kingdom, public entities, their personnel or others, except what is stated in the law or provided in the declaration.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يُرتب مجرد إعلان حالة الطوارئ حقًّا لأي شخص طبيعي أو اعتباري تجاه المملكة أو الجهات العامة أو أي من منسوبيها، أو تجاه أي شخصٍ آخر، عدا ما ورد في النظام أو ما ينص عليه في إعلان حالة الطوارئ.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article settles an important question: does anyone acquire a right merely because a state of emergency has been declared? The answer in the text is no.
The rule: the mere declaration of a state of emergency gives no right to any natural person (an individual) or legal person (such as a company) against:
- The Kingdom.
- Public entities or any of their personnel.
- Any other person.
The exception: what is stated in the law itself, or what is provided in the declaration of the state of emergency.
The key word here is “mere”: the article does not negate all rights during a state of emergency, but it denies that the declaration alone is an independent cause for a right to arise. Rights that the law establishes in its provisions, or that the royal order declaring the state provides, remain in place. This includes the provisions on compensation that the law contains in the cases it specifies.
The rule also covers relations between persons themselves (“or against any other person”), so the declaration of a state of emergency alone is not enough as a basis for a claim against another party.
Article 10 follows, dealing with the effects of the end of a state of emergency, and providing that it does not affect the legal positions and acquired rights that arose while it was in force. Anyone who believes they have a right connected to a state of emergency needs to identify its basis in the law or in the declaration, and can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases or in civil cases and compensation.
Practical example
A state of emergency was declared because of an epidemic, and the owner of an establishment in Riyadh claimed compensation from a government entity merely because the declaration was issued. The declaration alone is not enough for this right to arise; the owner needs a basis in the provisions of the law or in the text of the declaration of the state of emergency.
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 9 of the Saudi Emergency Law
Can I claim compensation merely because a state of emergency was declared?
The mere declaration gives no one a right, except what is stated in the law or provided in the declaration of the state of emergency.
Does declaring an emergency prevent all rights?
No. The rule concerns the bare declaration; rights that the law establishes or that the declaration provides remain in place.
More articles on Effects of Declaring and Ending an Emergency
- Article 10
This article provides that the end of a state of emergency does not affect rights, positions and obligations acquired during it, the completion of procedures begun, or final court judgments issued under the law.
لا يخل انتهاء حالة الطوارئ بما يأتي: 1- المراكز النظامية أو الالتزامات والحقوق المكتسبة التي نشأت أثناء سريان حالة الطوارئ. 2- استكمال أي إجراء تم البدء فيه بمو
- Article 31
The article makes powers conferred or delegated under the Law or emergency orders additional to any other powers conferred by any other law or regulation in force, unless the emergency order provides otherwise.
تُعد الصلاحيات المخولة أو المفوضة لأي شخص بموجب النظام أو أوامر الطوارئ مضافة لأي صلاحية أخرى مخولة إليه بموجب أي نظام أو لائحة أخرى معمول بها، ما لم يُنص على غ
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.