Fundraising Law

Purpose and scope

• Restricts fundraising to licensed bodies and requires those who collect and spend donations to be Saudi (Article 2).

Key rules, rights and obligations

• A body may raise funds only in line with its objectives, through its approved bank accounts and set channels (Article 3).
• In-kind donations are received at the head office, branches or licensed sites against numbered receipts, with a copy to the donor (Article 4).
• Cash donations may be received only by direct deposit into approved accounts, and donations from abroad only with the licensing body's approval (Article 5).
• Before any campaign the body must apply stating its purpose, duration and target, and a decision is issued within thirty days (Article 6).
• The body must show donation proceeds, income and spending in its annual budget (Article 13).

Violations, penalties and common problems

• A licensed body that breaches the law is stopped from raising funds for that purpose (Article 14).
• An individual who collects donations: a fine of up to five hundred thousand riyals, up to two years' imprisonment, or both, with deportation of a non-Saudi (Article 17).
• Donations collected in breach are confiscated by court judgment and spent on charitable purposes (Article 18).
• Common problem: collecting donations through personal accounts or social media without a licence.

Procedures and key deadlines

• The Public Prosecution investigates violations and prosecutes before the competent court (Article 16).
• A precautionary freeze may be sought on the violating body's bank accounts (Article 15).

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.