Article 26 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 26 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب السادس: أحكام عامة
The article provides that the Social Security Law applies after 120 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (مائة وعشرين) يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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 26 explained in plain English
This article specifies the date the Social Security Law takes effect: it applies after 120 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
This means the Law is not applied from the day it is issued or published directly, but there is a period of 120 days between publication and the start of application, and its provisions do not apply before it passes.
The importance of this article becomes clear when it is read with Article 25, which makes this Law replace the Social Security Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/45 dated 7/7/1427 AH and repeal any provisions that conflict with it. The effective date set in this article is the one from which the new Law begins to apply in place of the previous Law.
Beneficiaries and applicants need to know this date because it is the dividing line between the application of the two Laws, and a "beneficiary" under Article 1 is any independent person or family to whom the Law applies.
The article does not state the date of publication itself, so knowing the actual date of taking effect requires knowing the date the Law was published in the Official Gazette.
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 26 of the Saudi Social Security Law
When did the new Social Security Law take effect?
It applies after 120 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Does the Law apply from the date it was issued?
No. The article provides for it to apply after 120 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Does the new Law replace the old one?
Yes. Article 25 provides that this Law replaces the Social Security Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/45 dated 7/7/1427 AH.
More articles on Social Security Definitions and Objectives
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Social Security Law, such as breadwinner, dependent, family, independent person, pension, calculated income, and rehabilitation.
لأغراض تطبيق هذا النظام، يقصد بالكلمات والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت فيه- المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق غير ذلك: 1- الوزارة: وزارة الموارد البشرية وا
- Article 2
The article sets out the Social Security Law's objectives: addressing poverty, guaranteeing a minimum income, social protection, rehabilitation toward financial independence, and help in crises.
يهدف النظام إلى الآتي: 1- إرساء الوسائل والتدابير اللازمة لمعالجة حالات الفقر في المجتمع. 2- ضمان حد أدنى من الدخل يلبي الاحتياجات الأساسية لكل مستفيد من خلال ت
- Article 23
The article specifies the resources of social security: zakat funds collected by the State, the subsidy approved from the State treasury, and zakat, alms, endowment revenues, donations, and gifts provided to it.
تتكون موارد الضمان الاجتماعي مما يلي: 1- أموال الزكاة التي تجبيها الدولة. 2- الإعانة المعتمدة من خزينة الدولة. 3- ما يقدم له من زكوات وصدقات وعائدات أوقاف وتبرع
- Article 24
The article obliges the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations of the Social Security Law within 120 days of publication of the Law in the Official Gazette, and they apply from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة خلال (مائة وعشرين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ نفاذه.
- Article 25
The article provides that this Law replaces the Social Security Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/45 dated 7/7/1427 AH and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل النظام محل نظام الضمان الاجتماعي، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 45) وتاريخ 7 / 7 / 1427هـ، ويلغي كل ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
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.

