Article 30 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 30 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للهيئة تبادل الآثار المنقولة المكررة، أو التي لها نماذج مع المتاحف والمؤسسات العلمية الداخلية والخارجية، وكذلك إعارة الآثار المنقولة لعرضها في المتاحف والمعارض العالمية، وتحدد اللوائح الإجراءات المنظمة لذلك.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article gives the Commission two powers in dealing with movable antiquities:
First - exchange:
- What may be exchanged: movable antiquities that are duplicates, or that have similar specimens.
- With whom: museums and scientific institutions, inside and outside the Kingdom.
Second - lending:
- Lending movable antiquities for display in international museums and exhibitions.
The details: the regulations set the procedures governing this.
Note that exchange is limited to a certain kind of piece, namely duplicates or those with similar specimens, so according to the text it does not cover unique pieces. As for lending, its purpose is display in international museums and exhibitions, and lending by its nature does not transfer ownership.
The provision is permissive ("the Commission may"), that is, a power the Commission exercises as it sees fit. It makes it possible to present the Kingdom's heritage to the world and to benefit from scientific cooperation with other institutions.
By contrast, Article 31 allows the Commission to accept movable antiquities offered to it as a gift or loan, and to keep or display them in the name of the person who offered them.
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 30 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Does Saudi Arabia lend its antiquities to international exhibitions?
The Commission may lend movable antiquities for display in international museums and exhibitions, and the regulations set the procedures governing this.
Which antiquities may be exchanged with museums?
Movable antiquities that are duplicates or have similar specimens, with museums and scientific institutions inside and outside the Kingdom.
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 16
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.
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 وإ
- 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.