Article 31 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 31 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للهيئة قبول الآثار المنقولة التي تقدم إليها على سبيل الإهداء أو الإعارة، ولها أن تحفظها أو تعرضها باسم مقدمها.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article regulates the case of someone who wishes to offer movable antiquities to the Commission of their own will.
- The two forms of offering:
- Gift: giving the piece to the Commission without payment.
- Loan: giving it to the Commission while ownership stays with the one who offered it.
- The Commission's power: to accept these antiquities; acceptance is permitted to it and is not an obligation on it.
- What it does with them: it may keep or display them.
- Recognition of the one who offered them: keeping or displaying may be in the name of the one who offered them.
Movable antiquities, under Article 1, are pieces that are by nature separate from the ground and can be moved, such as sculptures, coins, inscriptions, jewelry, ornaments and heritage pieces of national value.
This article benefits someone who lawfully owns a movable antiquity, for example one registered with the Commission, and wants the public to see it or wants it kept in suitable conditions, while keeping their name connected with it. The article does not state the conditions or duration of a loan, or how a loaned piece is recovered; the text does not address these matters.
This article corresponds to Article 30, which allows the Commission to lend movable antiquities for display in international museums and exhibitions.
Practical example
Abdulaziz owns an old sword, inherited from his ancestors and registered with the Commission, and wants visitors to see it. He can offer it to the Commission as a loan or gift, and the Commission may accept it and display it in his name.
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 31 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Can I give an archaeological piece to the Commission as a gift?
Yes. The Commission may accept movable antiquities offered to it as a gift or loan.
Will my name be written on the displayed piece?
The Commission may keep or display the piece in the name of the one who offered it.
More articles on Museums and Their Licensing
- 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 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 56
Any person may establish a cultural, heritage, scientific or other museum as a cultural or investment project, after obtaining classification and a license from the Authority and the relevant bodies.
يجوز للشخص إنشاء متحف حضاري، أو تراثي، أو علمي، أو غير ذلك (كمشروع ثقافي، أو استثماري، أو كليهما) وذلك بعد الحصول على تصنيف وترخيص من الهيئة ومن الجهات ذات العل
- Article 57
Museums are classified into three categories (A), (B) and (C) according to the level of their displays and the variety of their activities; anything else is a private collection, and the regulations set the classification criteria.
تصنف المتاحف إلى ثلاث فئات: (أ) و(ب) و(ج) تبعاً لمستوى عروضها وتنوع نشاطاتها، وما عدا ذلك يعد (مجموعات خاصة)، وتحدد اللوائح معايير تصنيف المتاحف.
- Article 58
The Authority adopts a "Saudi Museum" logo granted to public and private museums, which passes with the museum if ownership transfers, and the regulations set the provisions on granting, suspending and revoking it.
تعتمد الهيئة شعاراً باسم (متحف سعودي) يمنح للمتاحف العامة والخاصة، وينتقل الشعار مع المتحف إذا انتقلت ملكيته، وتبين اللوائح الأحكام المتعلقة بمنح الشعار، وتعليق
- Article 59
The article requires a museum to preserve, maintain, study and enrich its collections, display them to the widest possible public, carry out cultural and educational activities, and take part in scientific research.
يجب على المتحف القيام بالآتي: 1 - حفظ المجموعات التي يمتلكها، وصيانتها، وترميمها، ودراستها، وإثراؤها. 2 - عرض مجموعاته، وجعلها متاحة لأكبر فئة من الجمهور. 3 - ت
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.