Article 29 of the Saudi Provinces Law
المادة 29 من نظام المناطق
The article permits the Provincial Council to form special committees when needed, to seek the assistance of experienced persons, and to invite whomever it wishes to attend its meetings and take part in the discussion without the right to vote.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمجلس المنطقة أن يكون عند الحاجة لجانا خاصة لدراسة أي أمر يدخل في اختصاصه وله أن يستعين بمن يراه من ذوي الخبرة والاختصاص. وله أن يستدعي من يشاء لحضور اجتماعات المجلس، والاشتراك في المناقشة، دون أن يكون له حق التصويت.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article gives the Provincial Council tools to support its work:
- Special committees: the council may form when needed special committees to study any matter within its competence. The committees are therefore limited to the scope of the council's competence.
- Seeking expertise: it may seek the assistance of whomever it sees fit among persons of experience and expertise.
- Inviting non-members: it may invite whomever it wishes to attend its meetings and take part in the discussion, without the right to vote.
The distinction is clear: an invitee takes part in the discussion but does not vote, and voting remains with the members. This allows the council to hear officials, experts or citizens concerned with a particular subject without changing its composition.
This article follows Article 28, which requires the attendance of two-thirds of the members for a valid meeting, with decisions issued by an absolute majority and the chair's side prevailing in a tie. It is followed by Article 30, which permits the Minister of Interior to call the council to meet under his chairmanship in any place he sees fit, and to chair any meeting he attends.
Anyone who is invited to a council meeting and needs to understand their role can consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
Practical example
The Madinah Provincial Council is studying a traffic congestion problem. The council may form a special committee to study the subject, seek the assistance of transport experts, and invite an official from a concerned authority to attend the meeting and take part in the discussion without the right to vote.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 29 of the Saudi Provinces Law
May the Provincial Council form committees?
Yes, when needed, to study any matter within its competence.
Does a person invited to a Provincial Council meeting vote?
No. He takes part in the discussion without the right to vote.
More articles on Regional Council Meetings and Decisions
- Article 18
The article gives a Provincial Council member the right to submit written proposals to the council chair on matters within its competence, which the chair includes in the agenda for study.
للعضو أن يقدم اقتراحات إلى رئيس مجلس المنطقة كتابة، وذلك في الأمور الداخلة في اختصاص المجلس، ويدرج الرئيس كل اقتراح في جدول أعمال المجلس لعرضه ودراسته.
- Article 26
The article requires the Provincial Council to hold an ordinary session every three months on its chair's call, permits an extraordinary meeting, and bars closing a session before the whole agenda is discussed.
يعقد مجلس المنطقة دورة عادية كل ثلاثة أشهر بدعوة من رئيسه، وللرئيس أن يدعو المجلس لاجتماع غير عادي، إذا رأى حاجة لذلك. وتشمل الدورة الجلسة، أو الجلسات التي تعقد
- Article 27
The article makes attending council meetings a duty of office for the emirate's deputy and heads of bodies, and makes an appointed member's absence from two consecutive sessions without excuse a ground for dismissal and a two-year bar on reappointment.
يعتبر حضور اجتماعات مجلس المنطقة واجبا وظيفيا بالنسبة للأعضاء المنصوص عليهم في الفقرتين (ج، د) من المادة السادسة عشرة من هذا النظام، ويتعين عليهم الحضور بأنفسهم
- Article 28
The article requires the attendance of at least two-thirds of the Provincial Council's members for its meetings to be valid, with decisions issued by an absolute majority and the chair's side prevailing in a tie.
لا تكون اجتماعات مجلس المنطقة نظامية إلا إذا حضرها ثلثا عدد أعضائه على الأقل، وتصدر قراراته بالأغلبية المطلقة لأصوات أعضاء المجلس، فإذا تساوت الأصوات يرجح الجان
- Article 30
The article permits the Minister of Interior to call the Provincial Council to meet under his chairmanship in any place he sees fit, and to chair any council meeting he attends.
لوزير الداخلية أن يدعو المجلس للاجتماع برئاسته في أي مكان يراه، كما أن له رئاسة أي اجتماع يحضره.
- Article 31
The article provides that the Provincial Council may not meet except on the call of its chair or his deputy, or by order of the Minister of Interior.
لا يجوز انعقاد مجلس المنطقة إلا بدعوة من رئيسه أو نائبه، أو بأمر من وزير الداخلية.
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.