Council of Senior Scholars (Saudi Arabia)

The Council of Senior Scholars (Arabic: هيئة كبار العلماء, romanized: Hay'at Kibar al-‘Ulama), also known as the Senior Council of Ulama, is the highest religious authority in Saudi Arabia, and serves as an advisory body to the king on religious matters. Members of the council is appointed by the king and receive salaries from the government. As of 2024, the council consists of 21 members.

King Fahd continued the practice established by his predecessors of meeting weekly with council members who residing in the capital, Riyadh. In 2010, King Abdullah decreed that only members of the Council and a select group of other Islamic scholars were authorized to issue fatwas in Saudi Arabia.