• The following terms - wherever they appear in this Law - shall have the meanings indicated opposite each of them:

  • University: Riyadh University of Arts.
  • Minister: Minister of Culture.
  • Ministry: **Ministry of Culture.
  • Council: University Board of Trustees.
  • Law: **University Basic Law.
  • Regulations: Regulations issued pursuant to the Law.

• 1- The university shall enjoy - based on the law - legal personality and independent financial liability as it is an educational institution of a private nature and non-profit.
• 2- The Ministry shall supervise the university's activities, and the university's main headquarters shall be in the city of Riyadh. It may establish branches, colleges, institutes, academies, departments, research centers, programs, and intellectual creativity centers inside and outside the Kingdom as needed.

• The university aims to qualify human cadres in the cultural sectors and contribute to the development of cultural sectors, and it has all the necessary powers to achieve its objectives, particularly - without limitation - the following:

  • 1- Setting policies related to the university's activities and strategies, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, in coordination with the Council of Universities Affairs regarding university education policies.
  • 2- Granting university, professional, technical certificates, all diploma certificates, and joint academic degrees.
  • 3- Preparing and developing academic and research curricula and materials, and approving them on specialized bases.
  • 4- Concluding agreements, memoranda of understanding and cooperation, protocols, contracts, joining international federations, and exchanging expertise with other universities, academic institutions, and local, regional, and international bodies related to its work and missions; including international academic accreditation bodies and institutions, and establishing partnerships with academic and non-academic entities - inside and outside the Kingdom - within the scope of its competencies.
  • 5- Organizing conferences, seminars, events, and competitions - inside and outside the Kingdom - related to its specialties and participating in them, according to the adopted procedures.
  • 6- Providing specialized training and qualification programs and courses, and cooperating with cultural sector establishments and other sectors in the field of on-the-job training.
  • 7- Preparing and implementing studies and providing services; according to the regulations set by the Council.
  • 8- Establishing companies and other establishments with special purposes or contributing to them, and establishing investment funds and the like or contributing to them; according to the relevant legal procedures and provisions, and the regulations set by the Council provided they do not conflict with those procedures and provisions.
  • 9- Investing its movable funds and allocated assets, according to what the Council approves in this regard.
  • 10- Establishing and managing endowments inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the applicable legal procedures and provisions, and the regulations approved by the Council in this regard provided they do not conflict with those procedures and provisions.
  • 11- Owning assets, disposing of them, and investing them, including: real estate, real and intellectual rights, shares, securities, foreign currencies, commodities, and all types of financial derivatives; inside and outside the Kingdom; according to the adopted procedures.

• 1- The university shall have a Board of Trustees chaired by the Minister, and membership shall include:

  • A- Minister of Education.
  • B- Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
  • C- Deputy Minister of Culture.
  • D- President of the University.
  • E- A representative from the Ministry of Culture.
  • F- No fewer than seven (7) and no more than seventeen (17) members, provided that among them are individuals with local and international expertise and specialization. Their appointment shall be issued by an order from the Council of Ministers based on a nomination from the Minister, and their membership term shall be three (3) years, renewable twice.

• 2- The remuneration of the Board members shall be determined by a decision of the Minister.

• 3- The Board may grant honorary membership according to criteria it sets. An honorary member may attend Board meetings without having the right to vote or hold a position on the Board, and honorary members shall not be counted towards the quorum required for Board meetings.

• The Council is the supreme authority responsible for managing the affairs of the university, conducting its matters, and formulating its general policy in accordance with the provisions of the law. It takes all necessary decisions to achieve its objectives, and it has, in particular, the following powers:

  • 1- Approving policies related to the university’s activities and strategies, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, in coordination with the Council of Universities Affairs regarding university education policies.
  • 2- Approving the university’s budget draft, its final account, its annual report, and the auditor’s report.
  • 3- Approving the regulations governing academic, administrative, internal, and financial affairs of the university, and other regulations necessary for managing its affairs.
  • 4- Approving the university’s organizational structure.
  • 5- Supervising the university’s operations, monitoring its growth and development, evaluating its performance, supporting it, and maintaining its independence and excellence.
  • 6- Appointing the university’s vice presidents, deans of colleges, heads of departments and academies, faculty members, and the university’s general legal consultant, in accordance with the regulations.
  • 7- Approving the establishment of branches, colleges, institutes, academies, departments, research centers, programs, social project incubators, and intellectual creativity centers.
  • 8- Approving the conclusion of agreements, memoranda of understanding and cooperation, protocols, contracts, joining international federations, and exchanging expertise with universities, other academic institutions, and relevant local, regional, and international bodies related to the university’s work and missions; including international academic accreditation bodies and institutions, and establishing partnerships with academic and non-academic entities—inside and outside the Kingdom—within the scope of the university’s competencies, in accordance with the policies regulating such partnerships approved by the Council.
  • 9- Approving the contracting of loans and other forms of financing, according to the regulations set by the Council, provided that the value of the loans does not exceed the university’s assets.
  • 10- Approving policies regulating requests for financial support and the university’s acceptance of grants, aids, scholarships, bequests, donations, endowments, and other contributions from inside or outside the Kingdom, in accordance with the applicable regulations.
  • 11- Approving regulations for preparing and implementing studies.
  • 12- Approving the establishment of companies and other entities with special purposes or contributing to them, establishing investment funds and similar entities or contributing to them, determining their authorities, and supervising the preparation of their founding documents; in accordance with the applicable legal procedures and provisions, and the regulations set by the Council without conflicting with those procedures and provisions.
  • 13- Approving the university’s investment strategy, policies, and procedures, including determining targeted returns, the mechanism for investment decision-making, monitoring performance, and divestment.
  • 14- Approving regulations for the university’s establishment and management of endowments inside and outside the Kingdom, in accordance with the applicable legal procedures and provisions.
  • 15- Approving the acquisition, disposal, and investment of assets.
  • 16- Approving regulations for leasing and renting sites to provide academic and non-academic services.
  • 17- Approving regulations for nominating and appointing university representatives on boards of directors of companies and other entities owned or contributed to by the university, and determining their rights and duties towards the university.
  • 18- Approving the scholarship and enrollment policy and plan.
  • 19- Approving the establishment of research chairs and scientific associations, and the policies regulating the provision of academic and research scholarships.
  • 20- Approving admission standards for students at the university and its units—while adhering to the principles of justice and equality—student evaluation, registration targets, and the annual capacity for student numbers.
  • 21- Approving teaching in other languages.
  • 22- Approving the academic calendar for each academic year and the date of graduation ceremonies, without being bound by any other academic calendar.
  • 23- Determining tuition fees, the financial consideration for services and works the Council deems appropriate to collect, and approving regulations for exemption from those fees and financial considerations.
  • 24- Approving employment standards and requirements, and regulations for secondment and borrowing.
  • 25- Approving the university’s disclosure and conflict of interest policy.
  • 26- Approving procedures regulating media communication.
  • 27- Approving the rules and procedures regulating the Council’s work.
  • 28- Approving the university’s accounting standards and policies, in accordance with the standards and policies applied in the Kingdom.
  • 29- Determining the start and end of the university’s fiscal year.
  • 30- Appointing an internal financial auditor.
  • 31- Approving the opening of bank accounts in any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom.
  • 32- Approving the policy for rewards for Council members, its subcommittees, and senior executives.

• The Council may, at its discretion, form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others, to which it delegates tasks it deems appropriate. The decision forming each committee shall name its chair and members, define their tasks and rewards in accordance with the approved rewards policy, and each committee may seek assistance from whomever it deems necessary to perform its assigned tasks.

• The Council may delegate some of its powers to its chair, any of its members, or university officials, as required by the workflow at the university.

• 1- The Council meetings shall be held at the university headquarters, and it may - with the approval of the Council Chairman - be held at another location.
• 2- The Council shall convene at the invitation of its Chairman at least once every (three) months, and whenever deemed necessary by the Council Chairman, or if requested by at least (one-third) of the members. The invitation must be sent - in writing - at least (seven) days before the meeting, and must include the agenda.
• 3- The Council meetings shall be held with the attendance of at least the majority of its members, including the Council Chairman or his deputy from among the members.
• 4- The Council’s decisions shall be issued by the majority vote of the members present at least, and in the event of a tie, the side supported by the meeting Chairman shall prevail.
• 5- The Council may issue its decisions by circulation to all its members, provided that approval is by majority, unless a member requests - in writing - the convening of a Council meeting to deliberate on those decisions. Members’ votes on those decisions may be adopted via technical means. Decisions made in this manner shall be presented at the next Council meeting to be recorded in the meeting minutes, and decisions by circulation shall take effect after the approval of the majority of members is fully documented.
• 6- No Council member may abstain from voting, nor delegate another member to vote on his behalf in his absence.
• 7- The Council’s deliberations and decisions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the meeting Chairman and the members present. A member who objects to any decision may record his objection with reasons in the minutes.
• 8- A Trustee shall be appointed by a Council decision, who shall be responsible for: preparing the Council’s agenda, sending invitations to members, secretariat of the Council meetings, preparing minutes and decisions and registering them in the special register, and any other tasks determined by the Council. The Trustee’s remuneration and financial benefits shall be specified in the appointment decision; in accordance with the regulations.
• 9- The Council may invite whomever it deems appropriate to attend its meetings without the right to vote.

The university shall have an Academic Council and an Executive Council. A decision shall be issued by the Council to appoint the members and the chairperson of each, define their tasks, and establish their rules of work. Both councils shall be affiliated with the Council and shall be independent in performing their tasks from a technical perspective. They may, when appropriate, form subcommittees.

• The university shall have a president appointed by a decision of the Minister based on a nomination from the Council. The university president shall be considered the chief executive officer of the university and shall be responsible for managing the university’s affairs. His responsibilities shall be based on the limits set by the Law and the authorities delegated to him by the Council. He shall undertake the following powers and tasks:

  • 1- Proposing policies related to the university’s activities and strategy, as well as the plans and programs necessary for their implementation.
  • 2- Proposing regulations governing academic, administrative, internal, and financial affairs of the university, and other regulations necessary for managing its affairs.
  • 3- Supervising the preparation of the university’s draft budget, final accounts, annual report, and auditor’s report; in preparation for submission to the Council.
  • 4- Proposing the organizational structure of the university.
  • 5- Recommending the appointment of vice presidents of the university, deans of colleges, heads of departments and academies, faculty members, and the university’s general legal consultant.
  • 6- Recommending the establishment of branches, colleges, institutes, academies, departments, research centers, programs, social project incubators, and intellectual creativity centers.
  • 7- Signing agreements, memoranda of understanding and cooperation, protocols, and contracts, based on authorization from the Council.
  • 8- Proposing policies regulating partnerships.
  • 9- Proposing policies regulating requests for financial support and the university’s acceptance of grants, aids, scholarships, bequests, donations, endowments, and other contributions from inside or outside the Kingdom.
  • 10- Proposing controls for preparing and implementing studies.
  • 11- Proposing the university’s investment strategy, policies, and procedures.
  • 12- Proposing controls for establishing and managing endowments for the university.
  • 13- Proposing controls for leasing and renting sites to provide academic services.
  • 14- Proposing controls for nominating and appointing university representatives on boards of directors of companies and other entities owned or contributed to by the university, and defining their rights and duties towards the university.
  • 15- Proposing the policy and plan for scholarships and admissions.
  • 16- Proposing research chairs, scientific associations, and policies regulating the provision of academic and research scholarships.
  • 17- Proposing criteria for student admission to the university and its units, their evaluation, student enrollment targets, and the annual capacity for student numbers.
  • 18- Proposing the academic calendar for each academic year and the date of graduation ceremonies.
  • 19- Proposing tuition fees and financial charges for services and works that the Council deems appropriate to collect, and controls for exemption from such fees and financial charges.
  • 20- Proposing employment criteria and requirements, and controls for secondment and borrowing.
  • 21- Proposing the university’s disclosure and conflict of interest policy.
  • 22- Proposing procedures regulating media communication.
  • 23- Representing the university before the judiciary, government agencies, institutions, other relevant bodies, and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and delegating others to do so.
  • 24- Preparing periodic reports on the progress of the university’s work and achievements, obstacles to achieving its objectives, and recommendations in this regard, and submitting them to the Council.
  • 25- Any other jurisdiction assigned to him by the Council or regulations.

• The university president may delegate some of his powers and authorities to other university affiliates.