Article 15 of the Saudi Advertising Boards Rules
المادة 15 من قواعد تنظيم لوحات الدعاية والإعلان
Article 15 requires advertisements to be consistent with the country's customs and traditions and good taste, with pictures and writing within Islamic ethics, observing classical Arabic and the Shari'a controls issued by the relevant bodies.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يجب أن يكون الإعلان منسجماً مع عادات وتقاليد البلاد، وأن تتلاءم مادته مع الذوق السليم، وأن تكون الصور والكتابات في إطار الآداب الإسلامية، مع التقيد بقواعد اللغة العربية الفصحى، وبما يصدر من الجهات ذات العلاقة فيما يخص الضوابط الشرعية للإعلانات.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 15 explained in plain English
Article 15 regulates the content of the advertisement itself, not its location or fees, and sets five controls for it:
- Consistency with the country's customs and traditions.
- The advertisement's material must suit good taste.
- Pictures and writing must be within the framework of Islamic ethics.
- Observing the rules of classical Arabic.
- Observing what the relevant bodies issue regarding the Shari'a controls for advertisements.
The last control is a reference to what the relevant bodies issue, so the article does not itself specify those controls. As for the classical Arabic condition, it means compliance with the rules of the language in the text of the advertisement, and the article does not address the use of other languages alongside Arabic.
The article was amended by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (242) dated 27/10/1421 AH to take its current text.
These controls come alongside Article 16, which requires every licensee to observe the requirements of security and safety and not to disfigure natural scenery when placing the advertisement. Article 15 concerns what the advertisement says and displays, while Article 16 concerns how it is placed and its effect on the place.
The advertiser and the advertising company should review the design and text before publication. A person whose advertisement is rejected or whose content is objected to may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and government contracts.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh designed an advertisement for a new product on a road board, and used a colloquial phrase written with linguistic errors. Under this article the advertisement must observe the rules of classical Arabic, in addition to suiting good taste and Islamic ethics.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 15 of the Saudi Advertising Boards Rules
Must advertisements be in classical Arabic?
Yes. The article requires observing the rules of classical Arabic in the advertisement.
What controls must the content of an advertisement meet?
Consistency with the country's customs and traditions, suiting good taste, pictures and writing within Islamic ethics, and observing classical Arabic and the Shari'a controls issued by the relevant bodies.
Who sets the Shari'a controls for advertisements?
The article refers to what the relevant bodies issue on this, and does not specify these controls itself.
Amendment history
Amendment — 27/10/1421 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدلت هذه المادة بموجب قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (242) وتاريخ 27/ 10/ 1421هـ ،لتصبح بالنص الآتى:
(يجب أن يكون الإعلان منسجماً مع عادات وتقاليد البلاد، وأن تتلاءم مادته مع الذوق السليم، وأن تكون الصور والكتابات في إطار الآداب الإسلامية، مع التقيد بقواعد اللغة العربية الفصحى، وبما يصدر من الجهات ذات العلاقة فيما يخص الضوابط الشرعية للإعلانات) .
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجب أن يكون الإعلان منسجمًا مع عادات وتقاليد البلاد، وأن تتلاءم مادة الإعلان مع الذوق السليم، مع مراعاة أن تكون الصور والكتابات في إطار الآداب الإسلامية، وأن تراعى قواعد اللغة العربية الفصحى في نص الإعلان.
More articles on Advertisement Content Controls
- Article 16
Article 16 requires every licensee to observe the requirements of security and safety and not to disfigure natural scenery when placing the advertisement.
يجب على كل مرخص له أن يراعي مقتضيات الأمن والسلامة وعدم تشويه المناظر الطبيعية عند وضع الإعلان.
- Article 19
Article 19 provides that the Rules regulating advertising and signage boards may be amended by decision of the Council of Ministers.
يجوز تعديل هذه القواعد بقرار من مجلس الوزراء.
- Article 20
Article 20 provides that the Rules regulating advertising and signage boards are published in the Official Gazette and take effect ninety days after the date of publication.
تنشر هذه القواعد في الجريدة الرسمية ويعمل بها بعد تسعين يومًا من تاريخ نشرها.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.