Article 16 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 16 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
The Commission, in coordination with the competent authorities, works to recover national antiquities and helps return foreign antiquities smuggled from and to the Kingdom, under the relevant international agreements.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الهيئة - بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة - أن تعمل على استعادة الآثار الوطنية، وأن تساعد على إعادة الآثار الأجنبية المهربة والمنقولة بطرق غير شرعية من المملكة وإليها، وذلك وفقاً للاتفاقيات والمعاهدات الدولية ذات العلاقة التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article deals with the international dimension of protecting antiquities, and gives the Commission two tasks:
- Recovering national antiquities: that is, antiquities that left the Kingdom and that the Commission seeks to bring back.
- Helping return foreign antiquities: those smuggled and moved by illegal means from and to the Kingdom.
How it works:
- In coordination with the competent authorities.
- In accordance with the relevant international agreements and treaties to which the Kingdom is a party.
The article therefore defines the Commission's role and its frame of reference; it does not name particular agreements, and does not state recovery procedures or details, which it leaves to those agreements.
The provision reflects that protecting antiquities does not stop at the Kingdom's borders: just as the Kingdom claims its antiquities that left by illegal means, it helps other countries recover their antiquities that were smuggled into the Kingdom.
Anyone offered a foreign archaeological piece of unknown origin should be aware that smuggled antiquities may be subject to a claim for return, and should consult a lawyer specializing in antiquities and urban heritage laws before any dealing.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Does Saudi Arabia recover its antiquities smuggled abroad?
Yes. The Commission, in coordination with the competent authorities, must work to recover national antiquities under the international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
What about foreign antiquities smuggled into the Kingdom?
The Commission helps return foreign antiquities smuggled and moved by illegal means from and to the Kingdom, under the relevant international agreements and treaties.
More articles on Possessing and Trading Antiquities
- Article 15
Auctions for selling movable antiquities and folk heritage pieces may not be organized except under a license from the Commission.
لا يجوز تنظيم مزادات بيع الآثار المنقولة وقطع التراث الشعبي، إلا بترخيص من الهيئة.
- Article 30
The Commission may exchange duplicate movable antiquities, or those with similar specimens, with museums and scientific institutions inside and outside the Kingdom, and lend movable antiquities for display in international museums and exhibitions.
يجوز للهيئة تبادل الآثار المنقولة المكررة، أو التي لها نماذج مع المتاحف والمؤسسات العلمية الداخلية والخارجية، وكذلك إعارة الآثار المنقولة لعرضها في المتاحف والم
- Article 31
The Commission may accept movable antiquities offered to it as a gift or loan, and may keep or display them in the name of the person who offered them.
للهيئة قبول الآثار المنقولة التي تقدم إليها على سبيل الإهداء أو الإعارة، ولها أن تحفظها أو تعرضها باسم مقدمها.
- Article 32
The Commission may leave a movable antiquity discovered by chance in its discoverer's possession after registering it, and the discoverer may not dispose of it without the Commission's approval.
للهيئة ترك الأثر المنقول المكتشف عن طريق الصدفة في حيازة مكتشفه بعد تسجيله، ولا يجوز لمكتشفه التصرف فيه دون موافقة الهيئة.
- Article 33
Restoring movable antiquities for commercial purposes may not be practiced except after obtaining a license from the Commission, and the regulations set out the controls for this.
لا تجوز مزاولة نشاط ترميم الآثار المنقولة لأغراض تجارية إلا بعد الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة، وتبين اللوائح ضوابط ذلك.
- Article 36
No movable antiquity may be acquired without proof of lawful ownership and its presentation to the Authority for registration; the holder is responsible for preserving it and must notify the Authority at once if it is lost, damaged or stolen.
لا يجوز اقتناء أي أثر منقول بأي شكل من أشكال الاقتناء دون حمل ما يثبت شرعية ملكيته، على أن يعرض على الهيئة لتسجيله، ويعد حائز الأثر مسؤولاً عن المحافظة عليه، ول
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.