Article 13 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 13 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article requires the Succession Commission, if the King and Crown Prince die at the same time, to choose the most suitable to rule within seven days, with the temporary council managing the State until allegiance is pledged.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في حالة وفاة الملك وولي العهد في وقت واحد تقوم الهيئة خلال مدة لا تتجاوز سبعة أيام باختيار الأصلح للحكم من أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل سعود وأبناء الأبناء والدعوة إلى مبايعته ملكا على البلاد وفقا لهذا النظام والنظام الأساسي للحكم.
ويتولى المجلس المؤقت للحكم إدارة شؤون الدولة لحين مبايعة الملك.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article deals with a rare but very important case: the death of the King and the Crown Prince at the same time. Its provisions:
- The Commission's task: it chooses the most suitable to rule from among the sons of the Founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud and the sons of the sons, and calls for pledging allegiance to him as King of the country.
- The period: within a period not exceeding seven days.
- The reference: in accordance with this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
- Managing the State in the transitional period: the temporary governing council manages the State's affairs until the King is pledged allegiance.
The difference between this case and the death of the King alone is that there is no Crown Prince here to be pledged allegiance, so the Commission itself makes the choice, and in the meantime the gap is filled by the temporary governing council.
This article is linked to Article 12, which deals with the inability of the King and the Crown Prince together for health reasons; in the case of permanent incapacity there, the temporary governing council manages the State and the Commission chooses the most suitable to rule within seven days in the same way. It is also linked to Article 14, which regulates the composition of the medical committee that issues the medical reports referred to in the Law.
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 13 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
What happens if the King and the Crown Prince die at the same time?
Within a period not exceeding seven days the Commission chooses the most suitable to rule from the sons of the Founding King and the sons of the sons, and calls for pledging allegiance to him as King.
Who runs the State until the new King is pledged allegiance?
The temporary governing council manages the State's affairs until the King is pledged allegiance.
From whom is the King chosen in this case?
From the sons of the Founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud and the sons of the sons.
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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.