Shura Council Law

Purpose and scope

• Governs the Shura Council: its composition, competences and procedures, as part of the regulatory authority of the State.

Key rules, rights and obligations

• The Council consists of a speaker and members chosen by the King from scholars and people of experience and specialisation; each term lasts four years.
• The Council gives its opinion on the general policies of the State; its competences include studying laws, regulations, treaties and international agreements and proposing amendments, interpreting laws, discussing the annual reports of government bodies and discussing the development plan.
• A number of members may propose a new draft law or an amendment to a law in force and put it to the Council.
• The Council works through specialised committees that study matters before they go to the plenary.

Procedures and key deadlines

• Council resolutions are submitted to the King; where the Council of Ministers and the Shura Council agree, decisions are issued after the King's approval; where they differ, the matter returns to the Shura Council and is then submitted to the King to decide.

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.