Article 10 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 10 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب الثالث: آلية الاحتساب والاستحقاق
The article excepts specific categories from the nationality requirement, including a non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi and a non-Saudi widow or divorcee with Saudi children.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يستثنى من شرط الجنسية الفئات الآتية:
1- المرأة غير السعودية المتزوجة من سعودي.
2- الأرملة أو المطلقة غير السعودية ولها أبناء سعوديون.
3- أبناء الأرملة أو المطلقة السعودية من زوج غير سعودي.
4- الأشخاص ذوو الإعاقة، والأيتام، والأرامل ذوات الأيتام الذين لديهم بطاقات تنقل.
وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط اللازمة لذلك.
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 10 explained in plain English
The rule under Article 9 is that a person entitled to the pension must be a Saudi permanently resident in the Kingdom. This article excepts from the nationality requirement four categories:
- A non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi.
- A non-Saudi widow or divorcee who has Saudi children.
- The children of a Saudi widow or divorcee from a non-Saudi husband.
- Persons with disabilities, orphans, and widows with orphans who hold mobility cards.
What is important to understand is that the exception here is from the nationality requirement only. It does not mean that these categories are exempt from the other conditions of Article 9, which are: calculated income below the calculated minimum for the pension, the wealth criteria applying, and compliance with the Ministry's requirements on health, education, rehabilitation, and community service. The article also does not state that it excepts from the permanent residence requirement.
Note that for the fourth category, the text ties it to their holding mobility cards. The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to specify the rules needed to apply these exceptions, so the Regulations may set conditions or procedures for verifying membership of these categories.
Anyone whose situation is close to one of these categories and unclear should consult the Ministry or a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases and social security laws.
Practical example
Layla is non-Saudi, was married to a Saudi and then divorced, has two Saudi sons, and lives with them in Riyadh. She is one of the categories excepted from the nationality requirement, but she must meet the other conditions, such as having calculated income below the calculated minimum for the pension, under the rules set by the Regulations.
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 10 of the Saudi Social Security Law
Is a non-Saudi wife entitled to social security?
Yes. A non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi is excepted from the nationality requirement, with the other conditions remaining and under the Regulations' rules.
Are the children of a Saudi woman from a foreign husband entitled to social security?
The children of a Saudi widow or divorcee from a non-Saudi husband are excepted from the nationality requirement, and the other conditions must be met.
Does a foreign divorcee have social security?
If she is a non-Saudi widow or divorcee with Saudi children, she is excepted from the nationality requirement, with the other conditions and the Regulations' rules.
Does the exception exempt from the income requirement?
No. The exception is from the nationality requirement only, and the other conditions of Article 9 remain required.
More articles on Social Security Eligibility Conditions
- Article 9
The article sets four conditions for entitlement to the pension: Saudi nationality and permanent residence, calculated income below the minimum, the wealth criteria, and compliance with the Ministry's requirements.
يستحق المعاش كل من استوفى الشروط الآتية: 1- أن يكون سعودياً مقيماً إقامة دائمة في المملكة، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة من ضوابط. 2- أن يقل الدخل المحتسب للمستقل أو
- Article 11
The article bars any beneficiary other than the breadwinner from being in more than one family, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
لا يجوز لأي مستفيد، غير العائل، أن يكون في أكثر من أسرة، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
- Article 12
The article provides that each family of a breadwinner with several families is independent with its own pension, and that a family member studying outside the family's city does not affect its entitlement.
1- إذا كان للعائل أكثر من أسرة، فتُعدّ كل أسرة مستقلة وتستحق معاشاً مستقلاً، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة. 2- لا يؤثر في استحقاق الأسرة للمعاش كون أحد أفرادها يقيم -
- Article 13
The article lets the family choose another qualified breadwinner if, under the Regulations' mechanism, the breadwinner is shown to lack capacity or to be incapacitated by an illness that makes it hard to manage the pension.
إذا ثبت -وفق الآلية التي تحددها اللائحة- عدم أهلية العائل أو عجزه لمرض يصعب معه التصرف في المعاش؛ فيجوز للأسرة أن تختار من تجد فيه الأهلية ليكون العائل.
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.