Article 33 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law

This article sets the date of entry into force of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, meaning the time when its provisions become applicable. The rule it sets is simple: the Law does not apply as soon as it is issued or as soon as it is published, but 120 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

This provision has practical consequences:

• The starting point of the count is the date of publication in the Official Gazette, not the date of issuance.
• During this period the Law has been issued and published, but its provisions have not yet started to apply.
• After the period ends, the Law's provisions become effective, including the rights it establishes for persons with disabilities.

This article is linked to Article 32, which provides that the Law replaces the Care of the Disabled Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/37 dated 23/9/1421 AH and repeals whatever conflicts with it. It is also linked to Article 31, which 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: the Regulations' period is counted from issuance, while the period for the Law's entry into force is counted from publication.

The article does not state a specific date in days and months, so anyone who wants to know the day on which the Law started to apply refers to the date of its publication in the Official Gazette and adds 120 days to it. Anyone with a matter whose ruling depends on the date of entry into force would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in the rights of persons with disabilities.