{ Adopted: March 1992 / Status: Oct 1993 }
Article 1
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic state
with Islam as its religion; God's Book and the Sunnah of His
Prophet, God's prayers and peace be upon him, are its
constitution, Arabic is its language and Riyadh is its capital.
Article 2
The state's public holidays are Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha. Its
calendar is the Hegira calendar.
Article 3
The state's flag shall be as follows:
(a) It shall be green.
(b) Its width shall be equal to two-thirds of it's length.
(c) The words "There is but one God and Mohammed is His
Prophet" shall be inscribed in the center with a drawn sword
under it. The statute shall define the rules pertaining to it.
Article 4
The state's emblem shall consist of two crossed swords with a
palm tree in the upper space between them. The statute shall
define the state's anthem and its medals.
Article 5
(a) The system of government
(b) Rule passes to the sons of the founding King, Abd al-Aziz
Bin Abd al-Rahman al-Faysal Al Sa'ud, and to their children's
children. The most upright among them is to receive allegiance
in accordance with the principles of the Holy Koran and the
Tradition of the Venerable Prophet.
(c) The King chooses the Heir Apparent and relieves him of his
duties by Royal order.
(d) The Heir Apparent is to devote his time to his duties as an
Heir Apparent and to whatever missions the King entrusts him
with.
(e) The Heir Apparent takes over the powers of the King on the
latter's death until the act of allegiance has been carried out.
Article 6
Citizens are to pay allegiance to the King in accordance with
the holy Koran and the tradition of the Prophet, in submission
and obedience, in times of ease and difficulty, fortune and
adversity.
Article 7
Government in Saudi Arabia derives power from the Holy
Koran and the Prophet's tradition.
Article 8 [Government Principles]
Government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on the
premise of justice, consultation, and equality
Article 9
The family is the kernel of Saudi society, and its members shall
be brought up on the basis of the Islamic faith, and loyalty and
obedience to God, His Messenger, and to guardians; respect for
and implementation of the law, and love of and pride in the
homeland and its glorious history as the Islamic faith stipulates.
Article 10
The state will aspire to strengthen family ties, maintain its Arab
and Islamic values and care for all its members, and to provide
the right conditions for the growth of their resources and
capabilities.
Article 11
Saudi society will be based on the principle of adherence to
God's command, on mutual cooperation in good deeds and
piety and mutual support and inseparability.
Article 12
The consolidation of national unity is a duty, and the state will
prevent anything that may lead to disunity, sedition and
separation.
Article 13
education will aim at instilling the Islamic faith in the younger
generation, providing its members with knowledge and skills
and preparing them to become useful members in the building
of their society, members who love their homeland and are
proud of its history.
Article 14
All God's bestowed wealth, be it under the ground, on the
surface or in national territorial waters, in the land or maritime
domains under the state's control, are the property of the state
as defined by law. The law defines means of exploiting,
protecting, and developing such wealth in the interests of the
state, its security and economy.
Article 15
No privilege is to be granted and no public resource is to be
exploited without a law.
Article 16
Public money is sacrosanct. The state has an obligation to
protect it and both citizens and residents are to safeguard it.
Article 17
Property
Article 18
The state protects freedom of private property and its sanctity.
No one is to be stripped of his property except when it serves
the public interest, in which case fair compensation is due.
Article 19
Public confiscation of money is prohibited and the penalty of
private confiscation is to be imposed only by a legal order.
Article 20
Taxes and fees are to be imposed on a basis of justice and only
when the need for them arises. Imposition, amendment,
revocation and exemption is only permitted by law.
Article 21
Alms tax is to be levied and paid to legitimate recipients.
Article 22
Economic and social development is to be achieved according
to a just and scientific plan.
Article 23 [Islam]
The state protects Islam; it implements its Shari'ah; it orders
people to do right and shun evil; it fulfills the duty regarding
God's call.
Article 24 [Holy Places]
The state works to construct and serve the Holy Places; it
provides security and care for those who come to perform the
pilgrimage and minor pilgrimage in them through the provision
of facilities and peace.
Article 25 [World Peace]
The state strives for the achievement of the hopes of the Arab
and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word, and to
consolidate its relations with friendly states.
Article 26 [Human Rights]
The state protects human rights in accordance with the Islamic
Shari'ah.
Article 27 [Welfare Rights]
The state guarantees the rights of the citizen and his family in
cases of emergency, illness and disability, and in old age; it
supports the system of social security and encourages
institutions and individuals to contribute in acts of charity.
Article 28 [Work]
The state provides job opportunities for who-ever is capable of
working; it enacts laws that protect the employee and employer.
Article 29 [Science, Culture]
The state safeguards science, literature and culture; it
encourages scientific research; it protects the Islamic and Arab
heritage and contributes toward the Arab, Islamic and human
civilization.
Article 30 [Education]
The state provides public education and pledges to combat
illiteracy.
Article 31 [Health Care]
The state takes care of health issues and provides health care
for each citizen.
Article 32 [Environment, Nature]
The state works for the preservation, protection, and
improvement of the environment, and for the prevention of
pollution.
Article 33 [Armed Forces]
The state establishes and equips the Armed Forces
Article 34 [Military Service]
The defence of the Islamic religion, society, and country is a
duty for each citizen. The regime establishes the provisions of
military service.
Article 35 [Citizenship]
The statutes define the Regulations governing Saudi Arabian
nationality.
Article 36 [Arrest]
The state provides security for all its citizens and all residents
within its territory and no one shall be arrested, imprisoned, or
have their actions restricted except in cases specified by
statutes.
Article 37 [Home]
The home is sacrosanct and shall not be entered without the
permission of the owner or be searched except in cases
specified by statutes.
Article 38 [Punishment, nulla poena]
Penalties shall be personal and there shall be no crime or
penalty except in accordance with the Shari'ah or organizational
law. There shall be no punishment except for acts committed
subsequent to the coming into force of the organizational law.
Article 39 [Expression]
Information, publication, and all other media shall employ
courteous language and the state's regulations, and they shall
contribute to the education of the nation and the bolstering of its
unity. All acts that foster sedition or division or harm the
state's security and its public relations or detract from man's
dignity
Article 40 [Communication]
Telegraphic, postal, telephone, and other means of
communications shall be safeguarded. They cannot be
confiscated, delayed, read or listened to except in cases defined
by statutes.
Article 41 [Residents' Duties]
Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall abide by its
laws and shall observe the values of Saudi society and respect
its traditions and feelings.
Article 42 [Asylum, Extradition]
The state shall grant the right to political asylum when the
public interest demands this. Statutes and international
agreements shall define the rules and procedures governing the
extradition of common criminals.
Article 43 [Royal Courts]
The King's Court and that of the Crown Prince shall be open to
all citizens and to anyone who has a complaint or a plea against
an injustice. Every individual shall have a right to address the
public authorities in all matters affecting him.
Article 44
The authorities of the state consist of the following
the judicial authority;
the executive authority;
the regulatory authority.
These authorities cooperate with each other in the performance
of their duties, in accordance with this and other laws. The
King shall be the point of reference for all these authorities.
Article 45
The source of the deliverance of fatwa in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia are God's Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger. The
law will define the composition of the senior ulema body, the
administration of scientific research, deliverance of fatwa and
it's (the body of senior ulema's) functions.
Article 46
Article 47
Article 48
Article 49
Article 50
Article 51
Article 52
Article 53
Article 54
Article 55
Article 56
Article 57
Article 58
Article 59
Article 60
Article 61
Article 62
Article 63
Article 64
Article 65
Article 66
Article 67
Article 68 [Consultative Council]
Article 69
Article 70
Article 71
Article 72
Article 73
Article 74
Article 75
Article 76
Article 77
Article 78
Article 79
Article 80
Article 81
Article 82
Article 83
The judiciary
The right to litigation is guaranteed to citizens and residents of
the Kingdom on an equal basis. The law defines the required
procedures for this.
The courts will apply the rules of the Islamic Shari'ah in the
cases that are brought before them, in accordance with what is
indicated in the Book and the Sunnah, and statutes decreed by
the Ruler which do not contradict the Book or the Sunnah.
Observing what is stated in Article 53, the courts shall
arbitrate in all disputes and crimes.
The King, or whoever deputizes for him, is responsible for the
implementation of judicial rulings.
The authorities establish the formation of the Higher Council of
Justice and its prerogatives; they also establish the seniority of
the courts and their prerogatives.
The appointment of judges and the termination of their duties is
carried out by Royal decree by a proposal from the Higher
Council of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the law.
The law establishes the seniority of the tribunal of complaints
and its prerogatives.
The law establishes the relationship between the investigative
body and the Prosecutor-general, and their organization and
prerogatives.
The King carries out the policy of the nation, a legitimate
policy in accordance with the provisions of Islam; the King
oversees the implementation of the Islamic Shari'ah, the system
of government, the state's general policies; and the protection
and defence of the country.
The King is the head of the Council of Ministers; he is assisted
in carrying out his duties by members of the Council of
Ministers, in accordance with the provisions of this and other
laws. The Council of Ministers establishes the prerogatives of
the Council regarding internal and external affairs, the
organization of and co-ordination between government bodies.
It also establishes requirements to be fulfilled by ministers, their
prerogatives, the manner of their questioning and all issues
concerning them. The law on the Council of Ministers and its
prerogatives is to be amended in accordance with this law.
(a) The King appoints and relieves deputies of the prime
minister and ministers and members of the Council of Ministers
by Royal decree.
(b) The deputies of the prime minister and ministers of the
Council of Ministers are responsible, by expressing solidarity
before the King, for implementing the Islamic Shari'ah and the
state's general policy.
(c) The King has the right to dissolve and reorganize the
Council of Ministers.
The King appoints those who enjoy the rank of ministers,
deputy ministers and those of higher rank, and relieves them of
their posts by Royal decree in accordance with the explanations
included in the law. Ministers and heads of independent
departments are responsible before the prime minister for the
ministries and departments which they supervise.
The law defines the rules of the civil service, including salaries,
awards, compensations, favors and pensions.
The King is the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces.
He appoints officers and puts an end to their duties in
accordance with the law.
The King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization
and war, and the law defines the rules for this.
If there is a danger threatening the safety of the Kingdom or its
territorial integrity, or the security of its people and its
interests, or which impedes the functioning of the state
institutions, the King may take urgent measures in order to deal
with this danger And if the King considers that these measures
should continue, he may then implement the necessary
regulations to this end.
The King receives Kings and Heads of State. He appoints his
representatives to states, and he receives the credentials of state
representatives accredited to him.
The King awards medals, as defined by regulations.
The King may delegate prerogatives to the Crown Prince by
Royal decree.
In the event of his travelling abroad, the King issues a Royal
decree delegating to the Crown Prince the management of the
affairs of state and looking after the interests of the people, as
defined by the Royal decree.
The regulatory authority lays down regulations and motions to
meet the interests of the state or remove what is bad in its
affairs, in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah. This authority
exercises its functions in accordance with this law and the laws
pertaining to the Council of Ministers and the Consultative
Council.
A Consultative Council is to be created. Its statute will specify
how it is formed, how it exercises its powers and how its
members are selected.
The King has the right to convene the Consultative Council and
the Council of Ministers for a joint meeting and to invite
whoever he wishes to attend that meeting to discuss whatever
matters he wishes.
International treaties, agreements, regulations and concessions
are approved and amended by Royal decree.
Statutes are to be published in the Official Gazette and take
effect from the date of publication unless another date is
specified.
Chapter 7 Financial Affairs
(a) The statute explains the provisions concerning the state's
revenue and its entry in the state's general budget
(b) revenue is entered and spent in accordance with the rules
specified in the statute.
Any undertaking to pay a sum of money from the general
budget must be made in accordance with the provisions of the
budget. If it is not possible to do so in accordance with the
provisions of the budget, then it must be done in accordance
with Royal decree.
The sale, renting or use of state assets is not permitted except in
accordance with the statute.
The statutes will define the monetary and banking provisions,
the standards, weights and measures.
The law will fix the state's financial year and will announce the
budget by way of a Royal decree. It will also assess the
revenues and expenditure of that year at least one month before
the start of the financial year. If, for essential reasons, the
budget is not announced and the new financial year starts, the
budget of the previous year will remain in force until the new
budget is announced.
The competent body will prepare the state's final statement of
account for the passing year and will submit it to the head of
the council of ministers.
The same provisions will apply both to the budgets of the
corporate bodies and their final statements of account and to the
state's budget and its final statement of account.
Chapter 8 Control Bodies
All the state's revenues and expenditures will come under
subsequent control and all the state's movable and immovable
funds will be controlled in order to confirm the good use of
these funds and their preservation. An annual report will be
submitted on this matter to the head of the Council of
Ministers. The law will define the competent control body and
its obligations and prerogatives.
government bodies will come under control in order to confirm
the good performance of the administration and the
implementation of the statutes. Financial and administrative
offenses will be investigated and an annual report will be
submitted on this matter to the head of the Council of
Ministers. The law will define the competent body in charge of
this and it's obligations and prerogatives.
Chapter 9 General Provisions
The implementation of this law will not prejudice the treaties
and agreements signed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with
international bodies and organizations.
Without violating the content of Article 7, no provision
of this law whatsoever may be suspended unless it is temporary
such as in a time of war or during the declaration of a state of
emergency. This temporary suspension will be in accordance
with the terms of the law.
This law may only be amended in the same way as it was
promulgated.