Article 3 of the Saudi Privileged Residency Law
المادة 3 من نظام الإقامة المميزة
The article divides privileged residency into permanent and fixed-term, gives each type products proposed by the Board with their fees, issued by decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
1- تكون أنواع الإقامة المميزة وفقاً للآتي:
أ- دائمة.
ب- محددة المدة.
2- يكون لأنواع الإقامة المميزة المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة منتجات، يقترحها المجلس، بما في ذلك المقابل المالي الذي يرى استحصاله عنها؛ وتصدر بقرار من مجلس الشؤون الاقتصادية والتنمية.
وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط المتعلقة بما ورد في هذه المادة.
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 3 explained in plain English
This article sets out the types of privileged residency and how their products and fees are determined.
- Two types of residency: permanent privileged residency, and fixed-term privileged residency.
- Products for each type: each of the two types has products, which are proposed by the Board (the board of directors of the Privileged Residency Center, as defined in Article 1), and the proposal includes the fee the Board considers should be charged for each product. These products do not take effect on the Board's proposal alone, but are issued by decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
This means that the article itself sets no amount or period for any product, and does not give the names of the products or their special conditions; these details are known from the decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. The article also provides that the Implementing Regulations specify the procedures and controls relating to what it contains.
The article reached its current wording by Royal Decree No. (M/84) dated 11/6/1445 AH.
The choice of product is tied to the conditions for applying set out in Article 4, such as a valid passport, being at least 21 years old, and proof of financial solvency. Anyone who wants to know which product suits their situation should check the decisions published by the Center, or consult a lawyer specialized in foreign investment and the residency affairs of non-Saudis.
Practical example
An investor living in Riyadh is considering privileged residency and is torn between permanent and fixed-term. This article shows her that the Law recognizes both types, and that the details of each product and its fee are not in the Law itself but in the decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs issued on the proposal of the Center's board of directors.
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 3 of the Saudi Privileged Residency Law
What types of privileged residency are there in Saudi Arabia?
Two types under this article: permanent privileged residency and fixed-term privileged residency, each with products.
Who sets the fees for privileged residency?
The Center's Board proposes the products and the fee it considers should be charged for them, and they are issued by decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Does the Law state the amount for privileged residency?
No. The article sets no amount; it refers the fee to the decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and the procedures and controls to the Implementing Regulations.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/84 — 11/6/1445 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/84) وتاريخ 1445/6/11هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
"1- تكون أنواع الإقامة المميزة وفقاً للآتي:
أ- دائمة.
ب- محددة المدة.
2- يكون لأنواع الإقامة المميزة المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة منتجات، يقترحها المجلس، بما في ذلك المقابل المالي الذي يرى استحصاله عنها؛ وتصدر بقرار من مجلس الشؤون الاقتصادية والتنمية.
وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط المتعلقة بما ورد في هذه المادة".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تكون أنواع الإقامة المميزة وفقاً للآتي:
أ- غير محددة المدة.
ب- لسنة واحدة قابلة للتجديد.
وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط المتعلقة بما ورد في هذه المادة.
More articles on Definitions and Types of Privileged Residency
- Article 1Amended by M/84
The article defines the terms used in the Privileged Residency Permit Law, such as non-Saudi, privileged residency holder, family, the Center and the Board.
يُقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها: النظام: نظام الإقامة المميزة. اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية للنظام. غير ال
- Article 14
The article provides that the Privileged Residency Permit Law takes effect from the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام اعتباراً من اليوم التالي لنشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.