Article 33 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 33 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article provides that the Law's protection provisions do not affect any other measures or types of protection established for protected persons under any other law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تخل الأحكام المتعلقة بالحماية المقررة في النظام بأي تدابير أو أنواع حماية أخرى تقررت للمشمولين بالحماية وفق أي نظام آخر.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article provides that the provisions on protection in the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law do not affect any other measures or types of protection established for protected persons under any other law.
This means that the existence of this Law does not remove whatever measures or types of protection a protected person may have under other laws; that protection remains in place alongside the protection established in this Law.
The article does not specify these other laws or the types of protection in them; it is worded generally to cover "any other law".
A protected person, as defined in Article 1, is someone for whom the program administration decides to provide any type of protection. The same article defines protection as the procedures, measures and guarantees taken when necessary to protect the whistleblower, witness, expert and victim, and their spouse, relatives or others at risk of danger or harm because of their close connection to them.
On penalties, Article 32 provides that the more severe penalty applies if any of the acts in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27 is an offense under other laws. Article 34 also provides that applying the Law does not affect the treaties and international agreements the Kingdom has committed to.
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 33 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Does the Whistleblower Protection Law cancel protection under other laws?
No. The Law's protection provisions do not affect any other measures or types of protection established for protected persons under any other law.
Does the article specify which other laws it means?
No. It is worded generally to cover any other law.
More articles on Definitions and Scope of Protection
- Article 1
Defines the Law's key terms, including whistleblower, witness, expert, victim, protection, covered crimes, the program and the person covered by protection.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها: النظام: نظام حماية المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا. اللائحة: اللائح
- Article 34
The article provides that applying the Law does not affect the treaties and international agreements the Kingdom has committed to.
لا يخل تطبيق النظام بما التزمت به المملكة من معاهدات واتفاقيات دولية.
- Article 36
The article tasks the Public Prosecution, in coordination with the relevant bodies, with preparing the Regulations within 120 days of the Law's issuance, to be issued by Council of Ministers decision.
تقوم النيابة العامة -بالتنسيق مع وزارة العدل ووزارة الداخلية ورئاسة أمن الدولة وهيئة الرقابة ومكافحة الفساد والجهات الأخرى ذات العلاقة كلٌّ فيما يخصه- بإعداد ال
- Article 37
The article provides that the Law takes effect 120 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد مضي (120) يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.

