Law of Universities

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  • In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

  • Royal Decree No. M/27 dated 1441/03/02 AH

  • By the grace of Allah Almighty

  • We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

  • King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Based onArticle (Seventy) of the Basic Law of Governance, issued by Royal Order No. (A/90) dated 27/8/1412 AH.

  • And based on Article (Twenty) of the Law of the Council of Ministers, issued by Royal Order No. (A/13) dated 3/3/1414 AH.

  • And based on Articles (Seventeen) and (Eighteen) of the Law of the Shura Council, issued by Royal Order No. (A/91) dated 27/8/1412 AH.

  • After reviewing the Shura Council decisions No. (239/61) dated 28/2/1440 AH, and No. (224/56) dated 19/1/1441 AH.

  • After reviewing the Council of Ministers decision No. (183) dated 1/3/1441 AH.

  • We decree the following:

    • First: Approval of the Universities Law, in the attached form.

    • Second: The Council of Universities Affairs shall exercise its duties and competencies stipulated in the law from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

    • Third: The Council of Universities Affairs shall designate up to three (3) universities - in the first phase - at most, to which the law shall be applied after its enforcement, and then it shall be gradually applied to other universities by order of the Prime Minister based on a proposal from the Council of Universities Affairs. The Council shall submit a report every two (2) years to the High Authority on the results of the law’s implementation, including any positives, difficulties, or others if any. The currently applicable laws and regulations - including the Law of the Council of Higher Education and Universities issued by Royal Decree No. (M/8) dated 4/6/1414 AH - shall continue to apply to universities not covered by the law until they are included.

    • Fourth: The Council of Universities Affairs shall exercise the powers of the (abolished) Higher Education Council as stipulated in the Law of the Council of Higher Education and Universities issued by Royal Decree No. (M/8) dated 4/6/1414 AH, for the universities that will continue to apply that law.

    • Fifth: Universities to which the law will initially apply according to paragraph (Third) of this decree shall be granted a transitional period of one (1) year from the date of enforcement of the law, during which the current university regulations shall continue to apply until the Council of Universities Affairs issues the financial, administrative, and academic regulations for the universities to comply with the provisions of the law, without prejudice to the authority of the Boards of Trustees in supervising the universities. The Council of Universities Affairs may extend the transitional period for those universities or some of them, provided that the extension does not exceed three (3) years from the end of the initial one-year transitional period.

    • Sixth: Employees of the universities to which the law will apply according to paragraph (Third) of this decree - including faculty members and those considered as such, administrators, and specialists who are in service at the time of enforcement of the law - shall continue under their applicable employment systems. The Council of Universities Affairs shall propose the necessary options and arrangements for their treatment, including transferring them to the Labor Law system, without affecting their acquired financial rights, and shall submit this for necessary completion.

    • Seventh: His Highness the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers, and the heads of the concerned independent bodies - each within their jurisdiction - shall implement this decree.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

  • In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

  • Council of Ministers Decision No. (183) dated 1441/03/01 AH

  • The Council of Ministers

  • After reviewing the correspondence received from the Royal Court No. 6317 dated 30/1/1441 AH, including the letter from the Ministry of Education No. 24723 dated 13/2/1440 AH, regarding the draft Universities Law.

  • After reviewing the aforementioned draft law.

  • After reviewing the Law of the Council of Higher Education and Universities, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/8) dated 4/6/1414 AH.

  • After reviewing the Law of the General Authority for Awqaf, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/11) dated 26/2/1437 AH.

  • After reviewing Council of Ministers Decision No. (409) dated 12/9/1436 AH.

  • After reviewing the minutes No. (1318) dated 10/11/1438 AH, No. (1287) dated 22/9/1439 AH, No. (1392) dated 29/7/1440 AH, No. (2205) dated 25/12/1440 AH, No. (202) dated 17/2/1441 AH, and memoranda No. (503) dated 28/4/1439 AH, No. (1620) dated 16/12/1439 AH, No. (9) dated 9/1/1441 AH, prepared by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers.

  • After reviewing the two recommendations prepared by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs No. (37-58/39/D) dated 4/11/1439 AH, and No. (11-1/41/D) dated 6/1/1441 AH, and the minutes No. (21/41/M) dated 22/2/1441 AH, prepared by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.

  • After considering the Shura Council decisions No. (239/61) dated 28/2/1440 AH, and No. (224/56) dated 19/1/1441 AH.

  • After reviewing the recommendation of the General Committee of the Council of Ministers No. (1415) dated 1/3/1441 AH.

  • It is decided as follows:

    • ​​​​​​​First: Approval of the Universities Law, in the attached form.

    • Second: The Council of Universities Affairs shall exercise its duties and competencies stipulated in the law from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

    • Third: The Council of Universities Affairs shall designate up to three (3) universities - in the first phase - at most, to which the law shall be applied after its enforcement, and then it shall be gradually applied to other universities by order of the Prime Minister based on a proposal from the Council of Universities Affairs. The Council shall submit a report every two (2) years to the High Authority on the results of the law’s implementation, including any positives, difficulties, or others if any. The currently applicable laws and regulations - including the Law of the Council of Higher Education and Universities issued by Royal Decree No. (M/8) dated 4/6/1414 AH - shall continue to apply to universities not covered by the law until they are included.

    • Fourth: The Council of Universities Affairs shall exercise the powers of the (abolished) Higher Education Council as stipulated in the Law of the Council of Higher Education and Universities issued by Royal Decree No. (M/8) dated 4/6/1414 AH, for the universities that will continue to apply that law.

    • Fifth: Universities to which the law will initially apply according to paragraph (Third) of this decision shall be granted a transitional period of one (1) year from the date of enforcement of the law, during which the current university regulations shall continue to apply until the Council of Universities Affairs issues the financial, administrative, and academic regulations for the universities to comply with the provisions of the law, without prejudice to the authority of the Boards of Trustees in supervising the universities. The Council of Universities Affairs may extend the transitional period for those universities or some of them, provided that the extension does not exceed three (3) years from the end of the initial one-year transitional period.

    • Sixth: Employees of the universities to which the law will apply according to paragraph (Third) of this decision - including faculty members and those considered as such, administrators, and specialists who are in service at the time of enforcement of the law - shall continue under their applicable employment systems. The Council of Universities Affairs shall propose the necessary options and arrangements for their treatment, including transferring them to the Labor Law system, without affecting their acquired financial rights, and shall submit this for necessary completion.
      A draft Royal Decree has been prepared, its text attached hereto.

    • Seventh: The Council of Universities Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, shall determine the expenditure items of the grants provided to the universities to which the new law will apply.

    • Eighth: Universities shall adhere to the allocations assigned to them within the specified budget ceilings.

    • Ninth: The work of the (temporary) committee - formed by Council of Ministers Decision No. (409) dated 12/9/1436 AH - shall end from the date the Council of Universities Affairs commences its duties according to paragraph (Second) of this decision.

Prime Minister

Chapter 1: Definitions and Objectives

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Article 1: Definitions

  • In this Law, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned thereto:

    • Law: Law of Universities.

    • Council of University Affairs: The body entrusted with regulating university affairs and setting their policies and regulations, in accordance with the Law.

    • Board of Trustees: The body entrusted with the governance and oversight of the university’s academic, administrative, and financial performance, in accordance with the Law.

    • University Council: The body entrusted with managing the university’s academic, educational, administrative, and financial affairs and implementing its general policy, in accordance with the Law.

    • Academic Council: The body entrusted with the university’s academic affairs, studies and research, and publication, in accordance with the Law.

    • College: An academic establishment composed of a group of academic departments falling under a general field of study.

    • College Council: The body entrusted with managing the college’s academic affairs, in accordance with the Law.

    • Department: An academic unit representing an academic specialization.

    • Department Council: The body entrusted with managing the department’s academic affairs.

    • Faculty: Full professors, associate professors, and assistant professors; lecturers and teaching assistants shall be deemed faculty members.

Article 2: Objectives

  • The Law aims to regulate higher education and enhance its academic, research, and societal status at the local, regional, and international levels.

Article 3

  • A university is a public non-profit academic institution with a financially and administratively independent legal personality, which contributes to the implementation of the State’s educational policy, in accordance with the Law.

Article 4

  • 1. Establishment of universities and their branches shall be pursuant to a decision by the Council of Ministers upon a recommendation by the Council of University Affairs.

  • 2. A university consists of colleges, deanships, academic departments, institutes, centers, educational units below university level, and university hospitals.

Article 5

  • The governance, administration, and management of university affairs shall be undertaken by:

    • Board of trustees.

    • University council.

    • University president.

Chapter 2: Council of Universities Affairs

Article 7

  • Notwithstanding other powers assigned thereto under the Law, the Council of University Affairs shall have the following powers:

    • 1. Approve academic policies and strategies.

    • 2. Approve the regulations of private universities and colleges and branches of foreign universities and monitor the implementation thereof.

    • 3. Approve the financial, administrative, and academic regulations of universities.

    • 4. Approve the regulations governing investments and self-generated revenues of universities.

    • 5. Approve the regulations governing the acceptance of donations, gifts, and bequests, as well as disbursement therefrom.

    • 6. Approve the regulations governing the management of endowments at universities, in coordination with the General Authority for Endowments.

    • 7. Approve the regulations governing academic societies, research chairs, as well as research, innovation, and entrepreneurship centers at universities.

    • 8. Approve the regulations for establishing science museums at universities in coordination with the relevant agencies.

    • 9. Approve the regulations governing student funds at universities.

    • 10.Governance and evaluation of universities’ academic, administrative, and financial performance.

    • 11.Approve the rules for the nomination of university presidents.

    • 12.Recommend the approval of the establishment, cancellation, or merger of universities and branches thereof, private colleges, and branches of foreign universities, and submit the same to the Council of Ministers for approval.

    • 13.Approve the establishment, merger, cancellation, or amendment of names of colleges, deanships, institutes, centers, and academic departments.

    • 14.Determine the remunerations and benefits of the chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the board of trustees.

    • 15.Determine the salary and benefits of the university president.

    • 16.Determine the remunerations and benefits of the chairman and members of the university council.

    • 17.Determine the remunerations and benefits of university vice-presidents, college deans and vice-deans, heads of departments, as well as members and secretaries of academic councils.

    • 18.Determine the remunerations and benefits of the General Secretary of the Council of University Affairs.

    • 19.Recommend approval of academic and technical cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding between universities and foreign institutions.

    • 20.Determine the programs and courses for which a university may charge fees, and set the General Rules governing such fees.

    • 21.Approve the university’s annual report on activities and achievements, and submit it to the Council of Ministers.

    • 22.Oversee the performance of boards of trustees and ensure the validity of their decisions.

    • 23.Resolve any conflict of powers between the board of trustees and the university council.

    • 24.Review issues referred to it by the Chairman or proposed by any of its members.

  • The Council may delegate certain powers to any of the boards of trustees according to the regulations approved by the Council of University Affairs. It may form standing or ad hoc committees from among its members or others to review matters it refers thereto.

 

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