Article 7 of the Saudi Engineering Professions Law
المادة 7 من نظام مزاولة المهن الهندسية
The article provides for submitting accreditation applications to the Committee, which must decide within 30 days of the documents being completed, by a reasoned decision that may be challenged before the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقدم طلبات الاعتماد المهني إلى اللجنة وفقاً للإجراءات التي يعتمدها مجلس الإدارة، ويتم الاعتماد المهني بعد التحقق من توافر الشروط اللازمة للاعتماد. وعلى اللجنة أن تبت في الطلب خلال ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ استكمال المستندات المطلوبة.
وفي جميع الأحوال، يجب أن يكون قرار اللجنة مسبباً، ويجوز التظلم من قرارها أمام المحكمة المختصة.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article regulates the procedure for obtaining professional accreditation and gives the applicant several safeguards:
- The body: applications are submitted to the Committee, which under Article 1 is the Professional Accreditation Committee of the Saudi Authority for Engineers, under the procedures approved by the Authority's Board of Directors.
- Basis of the decision: accreditation is granted after verifying that the necessary conditions are met, which are the conditions in Article 6.
- Time limit: the Committee must decide on the application within 30 days of the date on which the required documents are completed, not from the date the application is submitted.
- Reasons: in all cases, whether it accepts or rejects, the Committee's decision must be reasoned.
- Challenge: the Committee's decision may be challenged before the competent court.
The value of a reasoned decision is that it lets the person concerned know why the decision was made and helps him prepare his challenge. The article does not name the competent court or state a time limit for the challenge, and it does not say what follows if 30 days pass without a decision, so no rule on that should be assumed from this text.
Anyone whose application is rejected and who wishes to challenge it would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases to identify the competent court and the time limits that apply to him.
Practical example
Engineer Reem submitted an application for professional accreditation and completed her documents at the start of the month. The Committee must decide on her application within 30 days of that date. If the application is rejected, the decision must be reasoned, and she may challenge it before the competent 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 7 of the Saudi Engineering Professions Law
How long does it take to decide an engineer's professional accreditation application?
The Committee must decide on the application within 30 days of the date the required documents are completed.
Must a decision rejecting accreditation be reasoned?
Yes. In all cases the Committee's decision must be reasoned.
Where can I challenge a decision rejecting professional accreditation?
The Committee's decision may be challenged before the competent court.
More articles on Professional Accreditation of Engineers
- Article 2
The article bars practicing any engineering profession without professional accreditation from the Authority, treats holding a government engineering post as permission to practice there, and allows government engineers to be required to obtain accreditation.
1- لا تجوز مزاولة أي من المهن الهندسية إلَّا بعد الحصول على الاعتماد المهني من الهيئة، وفقا لما ورد في النظام، واللائحة. 2 - يعد شغل الوظائف الهندسية في الجهات
- Article 6
The article sets seven conditions for professional accreditation, including the engineering qualification, full legal capacity, an undertaking to follow the Engineer's Charter, good conduct, passing aptitude tests and paying the financial fee.
يشترط للاعتماد المهني ما يأتي: 1 - أن يكون طالب الاعتماد المهني حاصلاً على المؤهل المطلوب في أي من التخصصات الهندسية من إحدى الجامعات السعودية، أو ما يعادلها من
- Article 9
The article leaves it to the Authority's Board of Directors to set the professional grades and their requirements, the term of accreditation, renewal procedures and the financial fee, to be reviewed every 5 years under the Implementing Regulations.
يحدد مجلس الإدارة الدرجات المهنية ومتطلباتها، ومدة الاعتماد المهني وإجراءات تجديده، والمقابل المالي له، على أن يراجع ذلك كل خمس سنوات، وطبقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
- Article 15
The article allows a person whose accreditation was struck off or whose license was cancelled to request reinstatement 3 years after the judgment or decision, under the conditions and procedures for accreditation.
يجوز لمن شطب اعتماده المهني أو ألغي ترخيصه طبقاً لأحكام النظام؛ أن يطلب إعادة اعتماده أو ترخيصه من الجهة المختصة بعد انقضاء ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ صدور حكم أو قرار
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.