Article 13 of the Saudi Municipalities Law

المادة 13 من نظام البلديات والقرى

The article bars a municipal council member from holding two council memberships, working for the municipality, contracting with it, or chairing or managing a company connected with its works.

Official text (Arabic)

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

لا يجوز لعضو المجلس البلدي:

أ - أن يجمع بين عضوية مجلس بلديتين.

ب - أن يكون موظفا في البلدية ، ما لم يكن قد مضى على استقالته أو نقله من وظيفته سنة واحدة على الأقل.

ج - أن يكون مقاولا لأعمال أو لأشغال أو لوازم البلدية سواء كان ذلك بصورة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة.

د - أن يكون رئيسا أو مديرا في شركة لها علاقة بأعمال البلدية أو عضوا في مجلس إدارة هذه الشركة.

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 13 explained in plain English

This article sets out cases of incompatibility, aimed at preventing a conflict of interest between council membership and any interest connected with the municipality. A municipal council member may not:

Hold membership of the councils of two municipalities.
Be an employee of the municipality, unless at least one year has passed since resigning or being transferred from that job.
Be a contractor for the municipality's works, jobs or supplies, directly or indirectly; the ban cannot be evaded by contracting through another party.
Be a chairman or manager in a company connected with the municipality's works, or a member of the board of directors of such a company.

These cases are not conditions on the member as a person, but situations that cannot coexist with membership; a person may be suitable for membership under its conditions and yet be barred by one of these situations for as long as it continues.

Note that item (b) makes the bar temporary for someone who left a job in the municipality, ending after one year from the resignation or transfer. For the other items the text gives no period.

Before it comes Article 12, which regulates naming members, filling vacancies and the council's term, and after it comes Article 14, which refers to the Implementing Regulations the method of election, the conditions for voters, and the voting and challenge procedures. A person who has a contractual or employment relationship with the municipality and is considering membership should consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.

Practical example

The owner of a contracting firm in Jeddah that carries out maintenance work for the municipality wishes to join the municipal council. Under item (c), he may not do so as long as he is a contractor for the municipality's works, whether he contracts with it himself or indirectly.

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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