The following words and phrases - wherever they appear in this Law - shall have the meanings specified next to each of them:

• 1 - Law: The Law of Associations and Non-Profit Institutions.

• 2 - Center: The National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development.

• 3 - Council: The Board of Directors of the Center.

• 4 - Regulation: The Implementing Regulation of the Law.

• 5 - Association: The Non-Profit Association.

• 6 - Institution: The Non-Profit Institution.

• 7 - Bylaw: The Bylaw of the Association or the Institution.

• 8 - Fund: The Fund for Supporting Associations.

• 9 - Supervising Authority: The Government Agency that oversees the activities of the Association or Institution within its jurisdiction.

• 10 - Competent Authority: The authority designated by the Council of Ministers.

This Law aims to:

• 1. regulate, develop, and protect civil society activities;

• 2. contribute to national development;

• 3. promote the involvement of citizens in the management and development of the society;

• 4. foster the culture of voluntary work among members of the society; and

• 5. achieve social solidarity.

The center is the authority responsible for the affairs of associations and institutions within the provisions of this Law and other related regulations, and it has the authority to take what it deems necessary to achieve the objectives of this Law, specifically including the following:

• 1 - Licensing associations and institutions.

• 2 - Providing government grants to associations.

• 3 - Supervising and monitoring the activities of associations and institutions administratively and financially, with the regulations specifying the rules for that.

• 4 - Working on the development of associations and institutions.

• 5 - Organizing conferences and seminars in the field of civil work or participating in them, and supporting related research and studies and activating them.

• 6 - Deciding on the merger of associations and institutions of any kind.

• 7 - Establishing the necessary rules for coordination between official entities and associations and institutions within the Kingdom, in accordance with this Law and other regulations.

• 8 - Supporting and enhancing community trust in associations and institutions.

• 9 - Promoting the culture of volunteer work in the community.

• 10 - Developing plans and priorities for the activities and works needed by the community, and creating a database from which members of associations and owners of institutions can be guided.

Each supervising authority shall undertake the following:

• 1 - Approving the establishment of associations and institutions whose activities fall within its jurisdiction; in preparation for completing the licensing procedures from the center in accordance with the provisions of this law.

• 2 - Providing technical supervision over the activities of associations and institutions, and monitoring them.

• 3 - Working on the development of associations and institutions.