Article 33 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 33 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تجوز مزاولة نشاط ترميم الآثار المنقولة لأغراض تجارية إلا بعد الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة، وتبين 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 33 explained in plain English
This article regulates a specific professional activity: restoring movable antiquities.
- The activity covered: restoring movable antiquities, which under Article 1 are pieces that are by nature separate from the ground and can be moved, such as sculptures, coins, inscriptions, jewelry and ornaments.
- The limit: the restoration must be for commercial purposes.
- The condition: obtaining a license from the Commission before practicing the activity.
- The details: the regulations set out the controls for this.
The rule is tied to the commercial purpose; the text requires a license for someone who practices restoration as a commercial activity, such as a workshop offering restoration of artifacts to customers for a fee. The article does not address the position on restoration for non-commercial purposes, so no ruling on non-commercial restoration should be inferred from this text.
This provision is connected to Article 34, which provides that folk heritage pieces classified in the antiquities register are subject to the protection that applies to movable antiquities. Anyone who wants to open a restoration workshop should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in commercial and company matters.
Practical example
Tariq wants to open a workshop in Jeddah offering restoration of old copper pieces and jewelry to antique collectors for a fee. He may not practice this activity until he obtains a license from the Commission under the controls the regulations set out.
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 contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 33 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Do I need a license to restore antiquities?
Restoring movable antiquities for commercial purposes may not be practiced except after obtaining a license from the Commission.
Where do I find the conditions for an antiquities restoration license?
The article provides that the regulations set out the controls for this.
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 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 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.