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TheCustodianoftheTwoHolyMosques,KingFahdBinAbdulazizAlSaudissuedaRoyalDecreeembodyingthe
BasicLawofGovernance.ThefollowingisthetextoftheDecree.
InthenameofGod,themostcompassionate,themostMerciful.
No:A/90
Dated27thSha'ban1412H(1March1992)
WiththehelpofGod,we,FahdBinAbdulazizAlSaud,MonarchoftheKingdomofSaudiArabia,havingtaken
intoconsiderationthepublicinterest,andinviewoftheprogressoftheStateinvariousfieldsandoutofthedesire
toachievetheobjectiveswearepursuing,havedecreedthefollowing:
ThatthepromulgationoftheBasicLawofGovernanceisastheattachedtext.
Thatallregulations,ordersanddecreesinforceshallremainvalidwhenthisBasicLawcomesintoforce,until
theyareamendedtoconformwithit.
ThatthisdecreeshallbepublishedintheOfficialGazette,andshallcomeintoforceonthedateofits
publication.

CHAPTERONE
GENERALPRINCIPLES
Article1:
TheKingdomofSaudiArabiaisasovereignArabIslamicState.ItsreligionisIslam.ItsconstitutionisAlmighty
God'sBook,TheHolyQur'an,andtheSunna(Traditions)oftheProphet(PBUH).Arabicisthelanguageofthe
Kingdom.TheCityofRiyadhisthecapital.
Article2:
TheStatepublicholidaysareEidAlFitr(theFeastofRamadan)andEidAlAdha(TheFeastoftheSacrifice).Its
calendarfollowstheHijriyear(thelunaryear).
Article3:
TheflagoftheStateisasfollows:
(a)Itscolorisgreen
(b)Itswidthequalstwothirdsofitslength
Thewords:"ThereisnogodbutGodandMohammedisHisMessenger"areinscribedinthecenter,withadrawn
swordunderneath.Theflagshouldneverbeinverted.TheLawwillspecifytherulespertainingtotheflag.
Article4:
TheState'sEmblemrepresentstwocrossedswordswithapalmthreeinthemiddleoftheupperspacebetweenthem.
TheLawwilldefinetheState'sAnthemandmedals

CHAPTERTWO
THELAWOFGOVERNANCE
Article5:
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MonarchyisthesystemofruleintheKingdomofSaudiArabia
RulersofthecountryshallbefromamongstthesonsofthefounderKingAbdulazizbinAbdulrahmanAlFaisal
AlSaud,andtheirdescendants.
ThemostuprightamongthemshallreceiveallegianceaccordingtoAlmightyGod'sBookandHisMessenger's
Sunna(Traditions).
TheCrownPrinceshalldevotehimselfexclusivelytohisdutiesasCrownPrinceandshallperformanyother
dutiesdelegatedtohimbytheKing.
UponthedeathoftheKing,theCrownPrinceshallassumetheRoyalpowersuntilapledgeofallegiance(bay'a)is
given.
Article6:
InsupportoftheBookofGodandtheSunnaofHisMessenger(PBUH),citizensshallgivethepledgeofallegiance
(bay'a)totheKing,professingloyaltyintimesofhardshipandease.
Article7:
GovernmentintheKingdomofSaudiArabiaderivesitsauthorityfromtheBookofGodandtheSunnaofthe
Prophet(PBUH),whicharetheultimatesourcesofreferenceforthisLawandtheotherlawsoftheState.
Article8:
GovernanceintheKingdomofSaudiArabiaisbasedonjustice,shura(consultation)andequalityaccordingto
IslamicSharia.

CHAPTERTHREE
THEVALUESOFSAUDISOCIETY
Article9:
ThefamilyisthenucleusofSaudiSociety.MembersofthefamilyshallberaisedintheIslamicCreed,which
demandsallegianceandobediencetoGod,toHisProphetandtotherulers,respectforandobediencetothelaws,
andloveforandprideinthehomelandanditsglorioushistory.
Article10:
TheStateshallaspiretopromotefamilybondsandArabIslamicvalues.Itshalltakecareofallindividualsand
providetherightconditionsforthegrowthoftheirtalentsandskills.
Article11:
SaudisocietyisbasedonfulladherencetoGod'sguidance.Membersofthissocietyshallcooperateamongst
themselvesincharity,pietyandcohesion.
Article12:
Consolidationofthenationalunityisaduty.TheStateshallforbidallactivitiesthatmayleadtodivision,disorder
andpartition.
Article13:
TheaimofeducationistoimplanttheIslamicCreedintheheartsofallyouths,tohelpthemacquireknowledgeand
skills,toqualifythemtobecomeusefulmembersoftheirsociety,tolovetheirhomelandandtakeprideinits
history.

CHAPTERFOUR
ECONOMICPRINCIPLES
Article14:
AllnaturalresourcesthatGodhasdepositedunderground,aboveground,interritorialwatersorwithinthelandand
seadomainsundertheauthorityoftheState,togetherwithrevenuesoftheseresources,shallbethepropertyofthe
State,asprovidedbytheLaw.
TheLawshallspecifymeansforexploitation,protectionanddevelopmentoftheseresourcesinthebestinterestof
theState,anditssecurityandeconomy.
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Article15:
Noconcessionsorlicensestoexploitanypublicresourcesofthecountryshallbegrantedunlessauthorizedby
provisionsoftheLaw.
Article16:
Publicfundsareinviolable.TheyshallbeprotectedbytheStateandsafeguardedbyallcitizensandresidents.
Article17:
Ownership,capitalandlaborarebasiccomponentsoftheeconomicandsocialentityoftheKingdom.Theyare
personalrightswhichperformasocialfunctioninaccordancewiththeIslamicSharia.
Article18:
TheStateshallguaranteeprivateownershipanditssanctity.Nooneshallbedeprivedofhisprivateproperty,unless
inserviceofthepublicinterest.Inthiscase,afaircompensationshallbegiventohim.
Article19:
Generalconfiscationofassetsisprohibited.Noconfiscationofanindividual'sassetsshallbeenforcedwithouta
judicialruling.
Article20:
Notaxesorfeesshallbeimposed,exceptinneedandonajustbasis.Imposition,amendment,cancellationor
exemptionshalltakeplaceaccordingtotheprovisionsoftheLaw.
Article21:
Zakatshallbecollectedandspentforlegitimateexpenses.
Article22:
Economicandsocialdevelopmentshallbecarriedoutaccordingtoafair,wiseplan.

CHAPTERFIVE
RIGHTSANDDUTIES
Article23:
TheStateshallprotecttheIslamicCreed,applytheSharia,encouragegoodanddiscourageevil,andundertakeits
dutyregardingthePropagationofIslam(Da'wa).
Article24:
TheStateshalldevelopandmaintaintheTwoHolyMosques.Itshallprovidecareandsecuritytopilgrimstohelp
themperformtheirHajjandUmraandvisittotheProphet'sMosqueineaseandcomfort.
Article25:
TheStateshallnourishtheaspirationsofArabandMuslimnationsinsolidarityandharmonyandstrengthen
relationswithfriendlystates.
Article26:
TheStateshallprotecthumanrightsinaccordancewiththeSharia.
Article27:
TheStateshallguaranteetherightsofthecitizensandtheirfamiliesincasesofemergency,illness,disabilityandold
age.TheStateshallsupporttheSocialInsuranceLawandencourageorganizationsandindividualstoparticipatein
philanthropicactivities.
Article28:
TheStateshallfacilitatejobopportunitiesforeveryableperson,andenactlawstoprotecttheworkerandthe
employer.
Article29:
TheStateshallpatronizesciences,lettersandculture.Itshallencouragescientificresearch,protecttheIslamicand
Arabheritage,andcontributetowardsArab,Islamicandhumancivilization.
Article30:
TheStateshallprovidepubliceducationandcommititselftotheeradicationofilliteracy.
Article31:
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TheStateshalllookafterpublichealthandprovidehealthcareforeverycitizen.
Article32:
TheStateshallworktowardsthepreservation,protectionandimprovementoftheenvironment,aswellasprevent
pollution.
Article33:
TheStateshallformarmedforcesandequipthemtodefendtheIslamicCreed,theTwoHolyMosques,thesociety
andthehomeland.
Article34:
ItshallbethedutyofeverycitizentodefendtheIslamicCreed,thesocietyandhomeland.TheLawshallspecify
rulesformilitaryservice.
Article35:
TheLawshallspecifyrulespertainingtoSaudiArabiannationality.
Article36:
TheStateshallprovidesecurityforallcitizensandresidentsonitsterritories.Noonemaybeconfined,arrestedor
imprisonedwithoutreferencetotheLaw.
Article37:
Dwellingsareinviolate.Accessisprohibitedwithouttheirowners'permission.Nosearchmaybemadeexceptin
casesspecifiedbytheLaw.
Article38:
Nooneshallbepunishedforanother'scrimes.Noconvictionorpenaltyshallbeinflictedwithoutreferencetothe
ShariaortheprovisionsoftheLaw.Punishmentshallnotbeimposedexpostfacto.
Article39:
Massmediaandallothervehiclesofexpressionshallemploycivilandpolitelanguage,contributetowardsthe
educationofthenationandstrengthenunity.Itisprohibitedtocommitactsleadingtodisorderanddivision,
affectingthesecurityofthestateanditspublicrelations,orundermininghumandignityandrights.Detailsshallbe
specifiedintheLaw.
Article40:
Theprivacyoftelegraphicandpostalcommunications,andtelephoneandothermeansofcommunication,shallbe
inviolate.Thereshallbenoconfiscation,delay,surveillanceoreavesdropping,exceptincasesprovidedbytheLaw.
Article41:
ResidentsintheKingdomofSaudiArabiashallabidebyitslaws,observethevaluesoftheSaudicommunityand
respectSauditraditionsandfeelings.
Article42:
TheStateshallgranttherightofpoliticalasylumprovideditisinthepublicinterest.Internationalagreementsand
lawsshalldefinerulesandproceduresfortheextraditionofcommoncriminals.
Article43:
CouncilsheldbytheKingandtheCrownPrinceshallbeopenforallcitizensandanyoneelsewhomayhavea
complaintoragrievance.Acitizenshallbeentitledtoaddresspublicauthoritiesanddiscussanymattersofconcern
tohim.

CHAPTERSIX
THEAUTHORITIESOFTHESTATE
Article44:
TheAuthoritiesoftheStateconsistof:
TheJudicialAuthority
TheExecutiveAuthority
TheRegulatoryAuthority
TheseAuthoritieswillcooperateintheperformanceoftheirfunctions,accordingtothisLaworotherlaws.The
KingistheultimatearbiterfortheseAuthorities.
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Article45:
TheHolyQur'anandtheSunna(Traditions)ofGod'sMessengershallbethesourceforfatwas(religiousadvisory
rulings).TheLawshallspecifyhierarchicalorganizationforthecompositionoftheCounciloftheSeniorUlema,the
ResearchAdministration,andtheOfficeoftheMufti,togetherwiththeirfunctions.
Article46:
TheJudiciaryisanindependentauthority.Thedecisionsofjudgesshallnotbesubjecttoanyauthorityotherthanthe
authorityoftheIslamicSharia.
Article47:
Allpeople,eithercitizensorresidentsintheKingdom,areentitledtofilesuitonanequalbasis.TheLawshall
specifyproceduresforthispurpose.
Article48:
TheCourtsshallapplyrulesoftheIslamicShariaincasesthatarebroughtbeforethem,accordingtotheHoly
Qur'anandtheSunna,andaccordingtolawswhicharedecreedbytherulerinagreementwiththeHolyQur'anand
theSunna.
Article49:
Courtsareempoweredtoarbitrateinalldisputesandcrimes,takingintoaccounttheprovisionsofArticle53ofthis
Law.
Article50:
TheKingorwhomsoeverhemaydeputizeshallconcernhimselfwiththeimplementationofjudicialrulings.
Article51:
TheLawshallspecifythecompositionoftheSupremeJudiciaryCouncilanditsfunctions,aswellasthehierarchy
forthecourtsandtheirfunctions.
Article52:
JudgesshallbeappointedandrelievedbyRoyalDecree,basedonaproposaloftheSupremeJudiciaryCouncil,in
accordancewithprovisionsoftheLaw.
Article53:
TheLawshallspecifythehierarchyoftheBoardofGrievancesanditsfunctions.
Article54:
TheLawshallspecifytherelationshipbetweentheCommissionofInquiryandtheAttorneyGeneralandtheir
organizationandfunctions.
Article55:
TheKingshallrulethenationaccordingtotheSharia.HeshallalsosupervisetheimplementationoftheSharia,the
generalpolicyoftheState,andthedefenseandprotectionofthecountry.
Article56:
TheKingisthePrimeMinister.MembersoftheCouncilofMinistersshallassisthimintheperformanceofhis
missionaccordingtotheprovisionsofthisLawandotherlaws.TheCouncilofMinistersLawshallspecifythe
powersoftheCouncilinrespectofinternalandexternalaffairs,organizationofgovernmentaldepartmentsandtheir
coordination.Inadditions,theLawshallspecifythequalificationsandthepowersoftheministers,ministerial
accountabilityproceduresandallmatterspertainingtotheministers.TheLawoftheCouncilofMinistersandthe
areasoftheirauthoritymaybeamendedaccordingtothisLaw.
Article57:
TheKingshallappointandrelievedeputiesofthePrimeMinisterandmemberministeroftheCouncilbyRoyal
Decree.
DeputiesofthePrimeMinisterandmemberministersoftheCouncilshallbejointlyresponsibletotheKingfor
theimplementationoftheSharia,lawsandthegeneralpolicyoftheState.
TheKingisentitledtodissolveandreconstitutetheCouncilofMinisters.
Article58:
TheKingshallappointthosewhoareattherankofministersanddeputyministers,andthosewhoareatthehighest
gradeandrelievethembyaRoyalDecreeasprovidedbytheLaw.Ministersandheadsofindependentdepartments
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shallbeanswerabletotheKinginrespectoftheministriesandagenciestheyhead.
Article59:
TheLawshallspecifytherulesoftheCivilService,includingsalaries,awards,compensations,privileges,and
pensions.
Article60:
TheKingistheSupremeCommanderoftheArmedForces.Heshallappointanddismissofficersformservice,as
providedbytermsoftheLaw.
Article61:
TheKingshallannounceanystateofemergencyorgeneralmobilizationandshalldeclarewar.TheLawshall
specifyrulesforthispurpose.
Article62:
IfanimminentdangeristhreateningthesafetyoftheKingdom,theintegrityofitsterritoriesorthesecurityand
interestsofitspeople,orisimpedingthefunctionsofofficialorganizations,theKingmaytakeurgentmeasuresto
dealwithsuchadanger.Whenheconsidersthatthesemeasuresshouldcontinue,necessaryarrangementsshallbe
madeinaccordancewiththeLaw.
Article63:
TheKingshallreceivekingsandheadsofstate,appointhisrepresentativestootherstates,andreceivecredentialsof
otherstates'representativesaccreditedtohim.
Article64:
TheKingshallawardmedalsaccordingtoprovisionsoftheLaw.
Article65:
TheKingmaydelegatesomepowersofauthoritytotheCrownPrincebyRoyalDecree.
Article66:
ShouldtheKinghappentotravelabroad,heshallissueaRoyalDecreetodeputizetheCrownPrincetomanagethe
affairsofstateandlookaftertheinterestsofthepeople,assetoutintheRoyalDecree.
Article67:
TheRegulatoryAuthorityshallbeconcernedwiththemakingoflawsandregulationswhichwillsafeguardall
interests,andremoveevilfromtheState'saffairs,accordingtoSharia.Itspowersshallbeexercisedaccordingto
provisionsofthisLawandtheLawoftheCouncilofMinistersandtheLawoftheShuraCouncil.
Article68:
TheShuraCouncilshallbeestablished.ItsLawshallspecifythedetailsofitformation,powersandselectionof
members.TheKingmaydissolveandreconstituteMajlisAshShura.
Article69:
TheKingmaysummonMajlisAshShuraandtheCouncilofMinistersforajointsession.Hemaysummonothers
whomhedeemsnecessarytoattendthemeetinganddiscusswhateveraffairsheconsidersfit.
Article70:
Laws,internationalagreements,treatiesandconcessionsshallbeapprovedandamendedbyRoyalDecrees.
Article71:
LawsshallbepublishedintheOfficialGazette,andimplementedeffectivefromthedateofpublication,unless
anotherdateisspecified.

CHAPTERSEVEN
FINANCIALAFFAIRS
Article72:
TheLawshallincludeprovisionsfortheState'srevenuesandtheirdepositingwiththeGeneralTreasuryofthe
State
RevenuesshallberecordedandspentaccordingtoproceduresstipulatedbyprovisionsoftheLaw.
Article73:
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NocommitmenttopayasumofmoneyfromtheGeneralTreasuryshallbemadewithoutadherencetobudgetrules.
Ifprovisionsofthebudgetcannotcoverthedemand,thenaprovisionshallbemadethroughaRoyalDecree.
Article74:
AssetsoftheStatemaynotbesold,rentedordisposedofunlesssoauthorizedbytheLaw.
Article75:
Lawsshallspecifyprovisionsforcurrency,banks,standards,measuresandweights.
Article76:
TheLawshallsetthefiscalyearfortheState.ThebudgetshallbeannouncedaccordingtoaRoyalDecree.Itshall
specifyassessedamountsofrevenueandexpenditureonemonthaheadofthecomingfiscalyear.Ifthebudget
cannotbeissuedduetocompellingreasonsbeforethebeginningofthenewfiscalyear,thebudgetoftheprevious
yearshallremaininforceuntilthenewbudgetcanbeissued.
Article77:
ThecompetentdepartmentshallpreparetheclosingaccountoftheStateforthepastyearandforwardittothePrime
Minister.
Article78:
Budgetsandclosingaccountsofdepartmentswhichhavecorporaterights,shallbesubjecttothesameprocedures
whichareapplicabletotheState'sbudgetandclosingaccounts

CHAPTEREIGHT
INSTITUTIONSOFAUDIT
Article79:
AllrevenuesandexpendituresoftheState,aswellasmovableandfixedassets,shallbesubsequentlyauditedto
ensureproperuseandmanagement.AnannualreporttothiseffectshallbeforwardedtothePrimeMinister.The
Lawshallspecifydetailsofthecompetentauditinginstitution,togetherwithitsaffiliationsandareasofauthority.
Article80:
Governmentalinstitutionsshallalsobeauditedtoensureproperadministrativeperformanceandimplementationof
laws.Financialandadministrativeviolationsshallbeinvestigated.AnannualreportshallbeforwardedtothePrime
Minister.TheLawshallspecifydetailsofthecompetentinstitutionincharge,togetherwithitsaffiliationsandareas
ofauthority.

CHAPTERNINE
GENERALPRINCIPLES
Article81:
Withregardtotreatiesandagreements,theapplicationofthisLawshallnotviolatecommitmentsoftheKingdomof
SaudiArabiatowardsotherstates,internationalorganizationsandbodies.
Article82:
NoprovisionofthisLawwhatsoevermaybesuspendedexceptonatemporarybasis,suchasinwartimeorduring
thedeclarationofastateofemergency.SuchasuspensionshallbeinaccordancewiththetermsoftheLawandmay
notviolateArticle7.
Article83:
NoamendmenttothisLawshallbemade,exceptinthesamemannerasitwaspromulgated.
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