Article 38 of the Saudi Provinces Law
المادة 38 من نظام المناطق
The article limits dissolving the Provincial Council to an order of the Prime Minister on the Minister of Interior's proposal, requires reappointment within three months, and says who exercises the council's competences meanwhile.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يحل مجلس المنطقة إلا بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء، بناء على اقتراح وزير الداخلية على أن يتم تعيين أعضائه مجددا خلال ثلاثة أشهر من تاريخ الحل، وفي أثناء فترة الحل يمارس الأعضاء المنصوص عليهم في الفقرتين (ج، د) من المادة السادسة عشرة من هذا النظام برئاسة أمير المنطقة، اختصاصات المجلس.
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 38 explained in plain English
This article regulates the dissolution of the Provincial Council in three provisions:
- Who may dissolve: the council may be dissolved only by order of the Prime Minister, on the proposal of the Minister of Interior.
- Period for re-forming it: its members must be appointed again within three months of the date of dissolution.
- Who exercises the competences during dissolution: the council's competences are exercised, under the chairmanship of the emir of the province, by the members specified in items (c) and (d) of Article 16.
Referring back to Article 16, these are:
- The deputy of the emirate (item c).
- The heads of government bodies in the province who are specified by a resolution of the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior (item d).
As for the citizen members mentioned in item (e) of Article 16, who are persons of knowledge, experience and expertise appointed for four years, they are the ones covered by reappointment after dissolution. The council's work therefore does not stop during the period of dissolution, but continues through the government members under the chairmanship of the emir until the council is re-formed.
Practical example
An order is issued by the Prime Minister, on the proposal of the Minister of Interior, dissolving the council of one of the provinces. In the period following the dissolution, the deputy of the emirate and the specified heads of government bodies exercise the council's competences under the chairmanship of the emir of the province, and the council's members must be appointed again within three months of the date of dissolution.
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 38 of the Saudi Provinces Law
Who may dissolve a Provincial Council?
A Provincial Council may be dissolved only by order of the Prime Minister on the proposal of the Minister of Interior.
Within what period must members be reappointed after dissolution?
Within three months of the date of dissolution.
Who exercises the council's competences after it is dissolved?
The deputy of the emirate and the heads of government bodies mentioned in items (c) and (d) of Article 16, under the chairmanship of the emir of the province.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Formation and Membership of the Regional Council
- Article 15
The article provides for a council in each province called the Provincial Council, seated at the seat of the provincial emirate.
ينشأ في كل منطقة مجلس يسمى مجلس المنطقة، يكون مقره مقر إمارة المنطقة.
- Article 16Amended by A/21
The article sets the Provincial Council's composition: the emir as chair, his deputy, the emirate's deputy, specified heads of government bodies, and at least ten citizens appointed for a renewable four-year term.
يتكون مجلس المنطقة من: أ - أمير المنطقة رئيسا للمجلس. ب - نائب أمير المنطقة نائبا لرئيس المجلس. جـ - وكيل الامارة د - رؤساء الأجهزة الحكومية في المنطقة التي يصد
- Article 17
The article requires a Provincial Council member to be a Saudi national by origin and birth, of recognized integrity and competence, at least 30 years old, and resident in the province.
يشترط في عضو المجلس ما يلي: أ - أن يكون سعودي الجنسية بالأصل والمنشأ. ب - أن يكون من المشهود لهم بالصلاح والكفاية. ج - أن لا يقل عمره عن ثلاثين سنة. د - أن تكون
- 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 19
The article bars a Provincial Council member from attending the deliberations of the council or its committees on a subject that concerns his interest, that of a person whose testimony for him is not accepted, or that of a principal he represents.
لا يجوز لعضو مجلس المنطقة أن يحضر مداولات المجلس أو لجانه إذا كان الموضوع يتعلق بمصلحة شخصية له، أو مصلحة من لا تقبل شهادته له، أو كان وصيا، أو قيما، أو وكيلا ل
- Article 20
The article regulates the resignation of an appointed member: he submits his request to the Minister of Interior through the emir of the province, and it takes effect only with the Prime Minister's approval on the Minister's proposal.
إذا رغب العضو المعين في الاستقالة قدم طلبا بذلك إلى وزير الداخلية عن طريق أمير المنطقة، ولا تعتبر الاستقالة نافذة إلا بعد موافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء ، بناء على اق
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.