Article 11 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 11 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Dangerous facilities may not be built near fixed antiquities except with the Commission's approval, and the regulations set the controls for this.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تجوز إقامة منشآت خطرة بالقرب من الآثار الثابتة إلا بموافقة الهيئة، وتبين اللوائح الضوابط الخاصة بذلك.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article deals with a specific danger to antiquities: dangerous facilities that may be built near them.
- The rule: dangerous facilities may not be built near fixed antiquities except with the Commission's approval.
- Its scope: it concerns fixed antiquities, which under Article 1 are antiquities attached to the ground such as caves, rock inscriptions, ruins of cities and villages, water structures, and ancient trade and pilgrimage routes.
- The details: the regulations set out the controls for this.
Note that the article does not define a dangerous facility and does not set the distance that counts as "near" an antiquity; these details are left to the Implementing Regulations. So it cannot be concluded from the text alone whether a particular facility is subject to the rule; the regulations must be consulted.
This provision is one of the preventive protection articles in the Law, which aim to prevent damage before it occurs rather than address it afterwards. Anyone planning an industrial project or a warehouse for dangerous materials in an area with fixed antiquities should verify the Commission's approval before starting, and consult a lawyer specializing in antiquities and urban heritage laws if needed.
Practical example
A company in Tabuk plans to build a warehouse for flammable materials on land near archaeological rock inscriptions. If the warehouse counts as a dangerous facility near a fixed antiquity under the controls the regulations set out, it may not be built except with the Commission's approval.
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 11 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
May a dangerous facility be built near an archaeological site?
Dangerous facilities may not be built near fixed antiquities except with the Commission's approval.
What distance is prohibited for building dangerous facilities near antiquities?
The article does not set a distance, and provides that the regulations set out the controls for this.
More articles on Protecting Archaeological Sites from Encroachment
- Article 6
The article prohibits encroaching on, altering, damaging or defacing archaeological and urban heritage sites in any way, and bars placing signs and advertising on them without the Commission's approval.
1- يحظر التعدي على مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، أو تحويرها، أو إزالتها، أو إلحاق الضرر بها، أو تشويهها بالكتابة، أو الطلاء، أو النقش، أو إلصاق الإعلانات عليها
- Article 9
The Authority sets antiquities and urban heritage sites in coordination with the relevant bodies; they must be preserved in city plans, and building or restoration permits next to them are issued only in agreement with the Authority.
1- تحدد الهيئة مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، وتنسق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية، والجهات المعنية الأخرى - كل فيما يخصه - في شأن ذلك. 2 - تجب المحافظة على م
- Article 10
Grant and distribution decisions may not be applied to archaeological and urban heritage sites agreed upon with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and the ministries coordinate with the Commission when preparing grant and agricultural plans.
1- يمنع تطبيق قرارات المنح والتوزيع على مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني المتفق عليها مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية. 2 - تنسق وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية ووزا
- Article 13
The Commission coordinates with the Ministry of Interior and the related authorities to set a mechanism ensuring the protection of archaeological and urban heritage sites.
تنسق الهيئة مع وزارة الداخلية، والجهات ذات العلاقة لوضع آلية تكفل حماية مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني.
- Article 22
Making changes in archaeological and urban heritage sites, using their rubble, or taking soil, stones or any other material from them is not permitted except with the Commission's approval and under its supervision.
لا يجوز الإحداث في مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، أو استعمال الأنقاض التي فيها، أو أخذ أتربة أو أحجار أو أي مادة أخرى منها، إلا بموافقة الهيئة وتحت إشرافها.
- Article 24
The article requires the Commission's prior approval for demolition, utility connections and new work inside archaeological and urban heritage sites, requires it to reply within 60 days, and subjects the work to its monitoring.
1 - لا يجوز القيام بأي من الأعمال الآتية داخل حدود مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني إلا بعد الحصول على موافقةٍ مسبقةٍ من الهيئة: أ - أعمال الهدم الكلي، أو الجزئي.
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.