Article 54 of the Saudi Law of Universities

المادة 54 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الرابع عشر: أحكام عامة وختامية

The language of instruction at the university is Arabic, and teaching in other languages is permitted, where necessary and by decision of the University Council.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

لغة التعليم في الجامعة هي اللغة العربية، ويجوز -عند الاقتضاء وبقرار من مجلس الجامعة- التدريس بلغات أخرى.

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 54 explained in plain English

This article sets the language of instruction in universities, with a rule and an exception:

The rule: the language of instruction at the university is Arabic.

The exception: teaching in other languages is permitted, but on two conditions together:

that it be where necessary, that is, where a need calls for it;
that it be by decision of the University Council.

Teaching in a language other than Arabic is therefore not left to the choice of a faculty member, department or college, but needs a decision of the University Council. The University Council, according to Article 1, is the authority competent to conduct the scientific, educational, administrative and financial affairs of the university.

The article does not specify the cases in which "necessity" is met, nor name particular languages, so assessing that is for the University Council.

The importance of the article for students is that the rule is that education is in Arabic, and that any program taught in another language rests on a decision of the University Council.

This article is linked to Article 53, which permits non-members to attend meetings of the councils provided for in the Law to give information and clarifications, with voting for members only. Article 55 then prevents a member of any council from attending the council's discussion of matters relating to himself or to those related to him up to the second degree.

Practical example

A student applied to a medical program at a university and noticed that the courses are taught in English. Under this article, the rule is that the language of instruction is Arabic, and teaching in another language is where necessary and by decision of the University Council.

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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