Article 17 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 17 من نظام البلديات والقرى
The chairman or any member of the municipal council must leave the session when a case relating to a private interest of theirs is discussed, and the council decides by secret ballot in their absence.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على رئيس المجلس أو أي عضو من أعضائه مغادرة الجلسة في كل مرة يبحث فيها المجلس قضية تتعلق بصورة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة بمصلحة خاصة له، وعلى المجلس أن يتخذ القرار بالاقتراع السري في غيابه.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with conflict of interest during sessions. If the municipal council is discussing a case relating to a private interest of one of its members, the rule is as follows:
- Who is covered? The chairman of the council or any of its members; there is no exception for the chairman.
- When? Every time the council discusses a case relating to a private interest of theirs, whether the connection is direct or indirect.
- What is required? Leaving the session while this case is discussed.
- How does the council decide? It takes the decision in their absence by secret ballot, which is an exception to the usual rule on voting.
The purpose of the provision is to ensure that the member with the interest does not influence the deliberation or the vote, and that the remaining members vote freely without embarrassment, which is why the ballot is secret.
The phrase 'direct or indirect' means the provision is not limited to what concerns the member personally, but extends to what benefits the member even through another person. The text does not define the forms of indirect interest.
Before this article comes Article 16 on emergency sessions, and after it comes Article 18, which provides that council sessions are confidential, and that the council may invite to attend anyone whose presence it finds useful, without a right to vote.
Practical example
A municipal council in Riyadh is considering an application to license a commercial complex in which the brother of one of the members owns a share. If the member has a private interest in the case, even indirectly, then under this article the member must leave the session, and the remaining members take the decision by secret ballot in the member's absence.
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 17 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
What does a municipal council member do if they have an interest in the subject of the session?
The member must leave the session every time the council discusses a case relating to a private interest of theirs, directly or indirectly.
Does this rule cover the chairman of the municipal council?
Yes. The text covers the chairman of the council or any of its members.
How does the council vote in the absence of the member with the interest?
The council takes the decision by secret ballot in the member's absence.
More articles on Municipal Council Meetings and Decisions
- Article 15
The municipal council meets at least once a month on an invitation that includes an agenda, a member's written request made 4 days ahead must be added to it, and the council may not discuss items not on the agenda.
يجتمع المجلس البلدي في المكان المخصص له مرة في الشهر على الأقل بناء على دعوة رئيسه أو نائبه في حال غيابه، ويجب أن تشتمل الدعوة على جدول الأعمال، وعلى الرئيس أو
- Article 16
The chairman of the municipal council may call an emergency session, and must if most members ask; it is held within two days of the request arriving and discusses only its own matters.
يجوز لرئيس المجلس البلدي دعوة المجلس لعقد جلسة طارئة كلما رأى ضرورة لذلك، وعلى الرئيس دعوة المجلس لجلسة طارئة إذا طلب منه ذلك أكثر أعضاء المجلس، وتعقد الجلسة خل
- Article 18
Municipal council sessions are confidential, and the council may invite anyone whose presence it finds useful to attend, without a right to vote.
جلسات المجلس البلدي سرية، وللمجلس أن يدعو لحضور جلسات المجلس أي شخص يرى فائدة في حضوره، دون أن يكون له حق التصويت.
- Article 19
Municipal council sessions are not valid unless a majority of the members attend.
لا تعتبر جلسات المجلس البلدي نظامية إلا بحضور الأغلبية للأعضاء.
- Article 20
The municipal council takes decisions by a majority of those present, the chairman's or deputy's vote tips a tie, and voting is open but may be secret in important cases.
أ - يتخذ المجلس البلدي قراراته بأكثرية أصوات أعضائه الحاضرين، وفي حالة التساوي يكون صوت الرئيس أو نائبه في حال غيابه مرجحا. ب - يجرى التصويت بطريقة الاقتراع الع
- Article 21
The municipal council may form committees from some of its members to look into particular cases, with the result submitted to the council so that it takes the necessary decision.
يجوز للمجلس تشكيل لجان من بعض أعضائه للنظر في قضايا معينة، ورفع النتيجة فيها إلى المجلس لاتخاذ القرار اللازم.
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.