Article 18 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 18 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
The article requires whoever owns or controls a registered antiquity or urban heritage site to preserve it, requires a Commission license to invest in or operate it, obliges the investor to maintain it, and allows a charge for visits.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على الشخص الذي يقع في ملكيته أو تحت سلطته أثر أو موقع تراث عمراني مسجل في سجل الآثار، أو التراث العمراني؛ المحافظة عليه.
2 - لا يجوز استثمار الأثر وموقع التراث العمراني أو تشغيله إلا بترخيص من الهيئة، وتحدد اللوائح شروط منح هذا الترخيص.
3 - يلتزم كل مستخدم أو مشغل أو مستثمر للأثر أو موقع التراث العمراني؛ بصيانته وترميمه واستعماله وفقاً للوائح.
4 - لمستثمر الأثر أو موقع التراث العمراني أن يحصل على مقابل لزيارته؛ ليكون تعويضاً عن مصروفات المحافظة عليه، وتحدد اللوائح ضوابط ذلك.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article regulates the obligations of the owner and investor toward the antiquity or urban heritage site.
Paragraph (1) - duty to preserve: a person who owns or controls an antiquity or urban heritage site registered in the antiquities or urban heritage register must preserve it.
Paragraph (2) - the license: an antiquity or urban heritage site may not be invested in or operated except under a license from the Commission, and the regulations set the conditions for granting it.
Paragraph (3) - maintenance: every user, operator or investor must maintain, restore and use the antiquity or site in accordance with the regulations.
Paragraph (4) - charge for visits: the investor of the antiquity or site may obtain a charge for visiting it, as compensation for the expenses of preserving it, and the regulations set the controls for this.
Note that the duty to preserve in the first paragraph is tied to the antiquity or site being registered, while the license requirement in the second paragraph concerns investing in or operating the antiquity or site. This article complements Article 14, which makes setting the investment rules the Commission's responsibility. Anyone who wants to turn a heritage building into a tourism or commercial project should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in antiquities and urban heritage laws.
Practical example
Nasser owns a registered heritage house in Ushaiqer and wants to turn it into a guesthouse. He must obtain a license from the Commission and must maintain, restore and use the house in accordance with the regulations, and he may charge for visits under the controls the regulations set.
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 18 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Must the owner of a registered heritage building maintain it?
Whoever owns or controls a registered antiquity or urban heritage site must preserve it, and every user, operator or investor must maintain and restore it in accordance with the regulations.
Do I need a license to operate a heritage site?
Yes. An antiquity or urban heritage site may not be invested in or operated except under a license from the Commission.
May fees be taken from visitors to a heritage site?
The investor of the antiquity or site may obtain a charge for visiting it as compensation for the expenses of preserving it, under controls set by the regulations.
More articles on Investing in Archaeological Sites and the Antiquities Fund
- Article 14
The Authority, in coordination with the relevant bodies, sets the rules for investing in antiquities and urban heritage sites.
تضع الهيئة - بالتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية - قواعد استثمار مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني.
- Article 19
Anyone occupying an archaeological, historical, folk heritage or urban heritage site must allow the Authority's competent employees to enter in order to view and study it in accordance with statutory procedures.
على كل شخص يشغل موقعاً أثرياً، أو تاريخياً، أو موقع تراث شعبي، أو عمراني؛ أن يسمح لموظفي الهيئة المختصين بالدخول؛ للاطلاع عليه ودراسته وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية.
- Article 20
The article creates the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Fund to spend on protecting antiquities, building museums and supporting the private sector, and sets its resources from revenues, compensation and donations.
1- ينشأ في الهيئة صندوق يسمى (صندوق الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني)؛ للإنفاق منه على حماية الآثار، والتراث العمراني، والمحافظة عليها، وصيانتها، وعرضها، وتوظيف
- Article 21
The Commission, under existing laws, encourages the creation of associations specialized in antiquities, heritage and museums, and these associations may benefit from the support of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Fund.
تشجع الهيئة - وفقاً للأنظمة القائمة - إنشاء جمعيات متخصصة في مجال الآثار والتراث والمتاحف، ويكون لهذه الجمعيات الاستفادة من دعم صندوق الآثار والمتاحف والتراث ال
- Article 52
The article refers to the regulations the mechanism for contributing to the costs of maintaining, repairing and restoring a classified urban heritage building or site if its owner is unable to do so.
تبين اللوائح آلية المساهمة في تكاليف صيانة مبنى أو موقع التراث العمراني المصنف وإصلاحه وترميمه، إذا عجز مالكه عن القيام بذلك.
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.