Article 8 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
المادة 8 من نظام مجلس الشورى
Article 8 bars a Shura Council member from exploiting their membership for their own benefit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لعضو مجلس الشورى أن يستغل هذه العضوية لمصلحته.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article is short but lays down a basic rule on the integrity of a Shura Council member's work: a member may not exploit membership for their own benefit.
This means that membership is granted to perform the Council's tasks, not to achieve a private benefit. If the member's capacity, or the influence or information their position offers, is used to achieve a personal benefit, that is contrary to this article.
The text is general and does not list forms of exploitation, and does not set a particular penalty, so nothing should be added to it that it does not contain. The prohibition covers, by the breadth of the text, all forms of exploitation for private benefit, whether a financial benefit or otherwise, because the text is worded in absolute terms.
It is preceded by Article 7, which regulates filling a member's seat if it becomes vacant for any reason, by the King choosing who replaces them by royal order.
Article 9 then follows with a related restriction: a member may not combine membership with any government job or the management of any company unless the King sees a need for that.
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 8 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
May a Shura Council member use membership for personal benefit?
No. The article bars a member from exploiting membership for their own benefit.
Does the article list the prohibited forms of exploitation?
No. The text is general, barring exploitation of membership for private benefit without listing particular forms.
More articles on Duties and Accountability of Shura Members
- Article 2
Article 2 sets the principles on which the Shura Council rests: holding fast to the rope of God, adherence to the sources of Islamic legislation, and members' concern for the public good.
يقوم مجلس الشورى على الاعتصام بحبل الله، والالتزام بمصادر التشريع الإسلامي، ويحرص أعضاء المجلس على خدمة الصالح العام، والحفاظ على وحدة الجماعة وكيان الدولة، ومص
- Article 6
Article 6 provides that a Shura Council member who breaches the duties of their work is investigated and tried under rules and procedures issued by royal order.
إذا أخل عضو مجلس الشورى بواجبات عمله، يتم التحقيق معه ومحاكمته وفق قواعد وإجراءات تصدر بأمر ملكي.
- Article 9
Article 9 bars combining Shura Council membership with any government job or the management of any company, unless the King sees a need for it.
لا يجوز الجمع بين عضوية مجلس الشورى وأي وظيفة حكومية، أو إدارة أي شركة، إلا إذا رأى الملك أن هناك حاجة إلى ذلك.
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.