Article 9 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
المادة 9 من نظام مجلس الشورى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز الجمع بين عضوية مجلس الشورى وأي وظيفة حكومية، أو إدارة أي شركة، إلا إذا رأى الملك أن هناك حاجة إلى ذلك.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article lays down a rule of no combining Shura Council membership with certain other work, to ensure the member's full-time commitment and independence of opinion.
A member may not combine membership with any of:
- Any government job.
- Managing any company.
The text speaks of "managing" the company, so it does not address merely owning shares or stakes, but taking on its management.
The exception: combining is allowed if the King sees a need for it; the exception is decided neither by the member nor by the president of the Council, but rests on the King's discretion.
This article is linked to Article 8, which bars a member from exploiting membership for their own benefit; both aim to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that the member works for the Council's tasks. The aim of this rule is for the member to devote themselves to the Council's work and give their opinion without being in a job or management position that might influence it.
It is followed by Article 10, which regulates the appointment and relief, by royal orders, of the Council's president, vice president, assistant and secretary general.
Practical example
Fahad, the general manager of a joint-stock company in Dammam, was chosen as a member of the Shura Council. Under this article he may not continue managing the company while a member, 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 9 of the Saudi Shura Council Law
May a Shura Council member work as a government employee?
Membership may not be combined with any government job unless the King sees a need for that.
May a Shura member manage a company?
They may not manage any company unless the King sees a need for that.
Who holds the exception to the ban on combining?
The King alone, if he sees a need for that.
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 8
Article 8 bars a Shura Council member from exploiting their membership for their own benefit.
لا يجوز لعضو مجلس الشورى أن يستغل هذه العضوية لمصلحته.
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.