Saudi Arabia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL - The ...

poor, improving residences, providing financial aid to needy people; preparing youth for the labor market
through training programs and coordination with employers; and providing healthcare, educational and social
services. All of these organizations are governed by Decision of the Council of Ministers 107 of 25 Jumada al
Akheera 1410 , and are supervised by the Ministry of Social Affairs in terms of registration procedures,
monitoring the elections of the board of directors, financial accounts and their activities and programs.
Charitable societies also receive annual financial support from the Ministry, depending on the budget size of
each society.
Public Benefit Status
There is no law or regulation that distinguishes public benefit organizations from other organizations.
Barriers to Entry
There are multiple barriers to the formation and existence of civil society organizations:
To be registered, organizations are obligated to have at least twenty founding members who must
be Saudi citizens.
The registration process may be protracted, and sometimes takes years; unsuccessful applicants
are not provided rational justifications for the registration delays.
An organization’s field of work must be approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and its
geographical work zones must not overlap with other societies or institutions.
The Minister has the right to grant or refuse registration based on the Minister's full discretion.
Barriers to Operational Activity
First, an NGO’s activities are strictly confined to those which were approved during the registration process,
and the range of permissible activities is narrowly construed. A NGO must obtain prior approval from the
Ministry of Social Affairs before undertaking additional activities. Moreover, the Ministry of Social Affairs and
intelligence authorities strictly monitor the activities of NGOs; if an NGO engages in unapproved activities, then
government authorities compel the founders of the organization to sign pledges to discontinue these activities.
Second, the law allows the state to intervene in the internal affairs of organizations. For example,
representatives of various official agencies monitor most meetings held by societies. Indeed, governmental
representatives attending general meetings may also approve resolutions.
Barriers to Speech / Advocacy
Advocacy organizations are prohibited. The only legal organizational form for civil society is the charity or
missionary organization – and the permissible purposes which they can pursue are narrowly defined.
Allegedly, a draft anti-terrorism law - the Draft Penal Law for Terrorism Crimes and Financing of Terrorism – is
being prepared, which would allow the authorities to prosecute peaceful dissent with harsh penalties as a
"terrorist crime." Under the draft law, the definition of terrorist crimes is so broad that legitimate dissent would,
in effect, be criminalized. Questioning the integrity of the King or the Crown Prince would carry a minimum
prison sentence of 10 years.
Barriers to International Contact
NGOs must obtain prior approval from the Ministry before communicating with regional and international peer
groups. Foreign organizations are prohibited from opening branches in Saudi Arabia.
Barriers to Resources
Although there are no specific rules or regulations that address the receipt of funds from abroad, it is known
that Saudi NGOs are prevented, in practice, from receiving any foreign funding.
Domestic funding is limited to cash donations from Saudis. In recent years, the government has instituted a
plan that includes many restraints and procedures for monitoring NGO fundraising in an effort to impede
groups who support terrorist activities.
Many organizations and institutions carry out investment projects to increase their incomes although there are