Article 32 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
المادة 32 من نظام حقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة · الباب الخامس: أحكام ختامية
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law replaces the Care of the Disabled Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/37 dated 23/9/1421 AH, and repeals every provision that conflicts with it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحل النظام محل نظام رعاية المعوقين الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 37) وتاريخ 23 / 9 / 1421هـ، ويلغي كل ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article deals with the relationship of the new Law to the regulation that existed before it, and establishes two provisions:
- Replacement: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law replaces the Care of the Disabled Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/37 dated 23/9/1421 AH. That is, the new Law takes the place of the previous law as the regulation governing this field.
- Repeal of what conflicts: every provision that conflicts with the new Law is repealed. The article does not list these provisions, but sets a general rule: where there is a provision contrary to what this Law provides, what this Law provides governs.
In practice, this means that anyone looking for the rights of a person with a disability refers to this Law and its Regulations, not to the Care of the Disabled Law. The difference in terminology is also clear: Article 1 defines a "person with a disability" as any person with a long-term disorder or impairment in physical, mental, intellectual, sensory or psychological functions which, when dealing with various challenges, may prevent the person from participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.
This article is read together with Article 33, which sets the start of application of the Law at 120 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, and with Article 31 on issuing the Implementing Regulations. Anyone with a situation that arose under the previous law who wants to know the effect of this replacement on it should consult a lawyer specializing in the rights of persons with disabilities.
Practical example
Khaled, a father of a child with a hearing disability in Jeddah, found an old article online explaining his son's rights based on the Care of the Disabled Law issued in 1421 AH. Under this article, the reference governing these rights is now the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, which replaced the old law, and every provision that conflicts with it has been repealed, so Khaled should refer to the new Law and its Regulations to learn his son's rights.
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 contentGeneral Practice lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
General Practice lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 32 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
Is the Care of the Disabled Law still in force?
Article 32 provides that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law replaces the Care of the Disabled Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/37 dated 23/9/1421 AH.
What happens to provisions that conflict with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law?
The article provides that the Law repeals every provision that conflicts with it.
When does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law start to apply?
Under Article 33, the Law applies 120 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
More articles on Final Provisions and Entry into Force
- Article 29
The article provides that the rights and services in the Law do not prejudice any better rights or services provided by another law or an agreement to which the Kingdom is a party.
لا يخل ما ورد في النظام من حقوق وخدمات تقدم للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة بأي حقوق أو خدمات أفضل ينص عليها نظام آخر أو اتفاقية تكون المملكة طرفًا فيها.
- Article 30
The article requires the Authority to establish a comprehensive statistical database on persons with disabilities, in coordination with the relevant bodies, as a unified and accessible reference, in accordance with the provisions on protecting personal data.
تنشئ الهيئة -بالتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية- قاعدة بيانات إحصائية شاملة لبيانات الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة تكون مرجعاً موحداً متاحاً للوصول له؛ لضمان توحيد الجهود وتجويد ا
- Article 31
The article requires the board of directors of the Disability Care Authority to issue the Implementing Regulations within 120 days of the date of issuance of the Law, after coordinating with the relevant bodies.
يصدر مجلس إدارة الهيئة -بعد التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- اللائحة خلال (مائة وعشرين) يومًا من تاريخ صدور النظام.
- Article 33
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law starts to apply 120 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد مضي (مائة وعشرين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره 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.