Article 12 of the Saudi Municipalities Law

This article brings together provisions on forming the municipal council, its continuation and its end:

• Naming (a): the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs issues a decision naming the elected and appointed members, and the number of council members may not be amended during its term.
• Vacancy (b): if the seat of an elected member becomes vacant for any reason, the Minister names the person with the next highest votes, if there is one, to take the seat for the remaining term. If there is no candidate with votes, or the vacancy is an appointed member, a replacement is appointed by decision of the Minister for the remaining term of the council.
• Dissolution (c): if the number of members falls below half and it is not possible to fill the vacancies in the way above, the council is considered dissolved and the Minister issues a decision to that effect. Both conditions are required together.
• Term (d): the council's term is 4 years from the date of the decision naming its members.
• Early dissolution (e): the Minister may dissolve the council before its term ends if it is unable to carry out its duties, and the Minister then specifies who exercises the council's powers until the decision naming the members of the new council is issued.

Filling vacancies is linked to Article 11, which requires of a member things including Saudi nationality or naturalization for 10 years, being 25 years old, and permanent residence in the municipality's area throughout membership. It is followed by Article 13, which prevents a member from holding membership of two councils, and from being an employee of the municipality, a contractor for its works, or a chairman or manager of a company connected with its works.

The article does not set criteria for 'inability to carry out duties', nor does it provide a route to object to a dissolution decision; anyone who needs that should consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.