Article 1 of the Saudi Road Transport Law
المادة 1 من نظام النقل العام على الطرق
Article 1 treats passenger transport by buses, each equipped for at least eight people, operating regularly on a set route and available to anyone for a fixed fare, as a public utility.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعتبر من المرافق العامة نقل الركاب بالحافلات التي تعد كل منها لنقل ثمانية أشخاص على الأقل، وتعمل بطريقة منتظمة في حدود محددة وطبقا لخط سير معين وفي متناول أي شخص مقابل الأجرة المحددة.
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 1 explained in plain English
This article specifies when passenger transport by bus counts as a public utility, meaning a public service subject to the State's regulation and supervision, not merely a free commercial activity. It is not enough for a bus to carry passengers; the conditions stated in the text must all be present:
- Each bus must be equipped to carry at least eight people.
- It must operate regularly within set limits.
- It must run on a specific route.
- It must be within reach of any person, that is, open to the public and not reserved for a particular group.
- The transport must be for the fixed fare.
The importance of this description is that it is the entry point to the rest of the Law's provisions; Article 2 shows that public collective passenger transport by bus on public roads within cities or between neighboring cities is by way of concession and for a limited period, unless the Government sees fit to manage it itself. If the description of a public utility applies to a transport activity, it falls within this regulatory framework.
Someone considering operating a regular passenger transport service for the public needs to check that these conditions apply to their activity, and can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters and transport law if in doubt.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah wants to operate buses, each seating thirty passengers, moving regularly between set neighborhoods on a fixed route, and boarded by anyone who pays the fare. This activity has the public utility description in the article, so it is subject to the Law's provisions and to what Article 2 provides about operating it by way of concession.
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 1 of the Saudi Road Transport Law
When is passenger transport by bus a public utility?
When each bus is equipped for at least eight people, operates regularly within set limits on a specific route, and is available to anyone for a fixed fare.
Is a bus that carries fewer than eight people public transport under this article?
The article's description does not cover it, because the text requires each bus to be equipped to carry at least eight people.
More articles on Public Passenger Transport by Bus
- Article 2
Article 2 provides that public collective passenger transport by bus within cities and between neighboring cities is by way of concession for a limited period, unless the Government decides to manage it itself.
يكون النقل العام الجماعي للركاب بالحافلات على شبكة الطرق العامة داخل المدن أو ما بين المدن المتجاورة بطريق الالتزام ولمدة محدودة، ما لم ترى الحكومة أن تتولى إدا
- Article 9
Article 9 requires the Minister of Communications to issue a regulation organizing small taxis, so as to ensure coordination with public transport buses and serve the interest of the transport utility.
يصدر وزير المواصلات لائحة لتنظيم سيارات الأجرة الصغيرة " التاكسي" على نحو يكفل التنسيق بينها وبين تسيير حافلات النقل العام ، ويحقق مصلحة مرفق النقل.
- Article 10
Article 10 excludes from the preceding articles buses used by ministries, agencies, institutes, schools and others to transport their personnel, as long as they are not used outside their designated purpose.
لا تسري أحكام المواد السابقة على الحافلات التي تستخدمها الوزارات والمصالح المختلفة، والمعاهد والمدارس وغيرها، لنقل منسوبيهم طالما لم تخرج عن الغرض المخصص لها.
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.