Article 18 of the Saudi Voluntary Service Law
المادة 18 من نظام العمل التطوعي
The article provides that the Voluntary Service Law takes effect ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُعمل بالنظام بعد (تسعين) 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 18 explained in plain English
This article sets when the Voluntary Service Law begins to apply, which is 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. The Law therefore did not become in force on the day of its publication, but after this period passed.
The evident purpose of this period is to give the parties concerned time to prepare, since the Law places obligations on several bodies, including:
- The National Committee for Voluntary Service, which under Article 17 issues the mechanisms needed to apply the Law and circulates them to government bodies.
The start of effect is counted from the date of publication, not the date the Royal Decree was issued. The article does not state the publication date itself, so it is consulted in the Official Gazette when the day of effect needs to be fixed precisely.
As for the amendments later made to the Law, such as those made by Royal Decree No. M/111 dated 10/7/1444 AH to some of its articles, this article does not address the timing of their effect. Someone who needs to know the text that applies to an event on a particular date can consult a general practice lawyer.
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 18 of the Saudi Voluntary Service Law
When did the Voluntary Service Law take effect?
Ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, under the article.
Does the Law start from the date it was issued?
No. The article ties effect to the passing of 90 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
More articles on Definitions and Objectives of Voluntary Service
- Article 1
The article defines the basic terms in the Voluntary Service Law: voluntary work, the Law, the Committee, the volunteer, the beneficiary body and the volunteer team.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتض سياق النص غير ذلك: 1- العمل التطوعي: كل جهد أو عمل يقدمه شخص
- Article 2Amended by M/111
The article states the objectives of the Voluntary Service Law, including spreading a culture of volunteering, regulating the relationship between its parties, strengthening national belonging and developing volunteers' abilities.
يهدف النظام إلى الآتي: 2- نشر ثقافة العمل التطوعي بين أفراد المجتمع ومؤسساته. 3- تنظيم العلاقة بين أطراف العمل التطوعي، وتحديد حقوقهم وواجباتهم. 4- تعزيز قيم ال
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.