Article 34 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 34 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Heritage artifacts are classified in the antiquities register into categories A, B and C; classified ones receive the protection given to movable antiquities, and the Authority helps document them and supports research.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - يكون تصنيف قطع التراث الشعبي في سجل الآثار على النحو الآتي:
الفئة (أ) القطع ذات الأهمية العالية.
الفئة (ب) القطع ذات الأهمية المتوسطة.
الفئة (ج) القطع ذات الأهمية القليلة.
2 - تخضع قطع التراث الشعبي المصنفة ضمن سجل الآثار للحماية الخاصة بالآثار المنقولة الواردة في هذا النظام.
3 - تسهم الهيئة في توثيق قطع التراث الشعبي، ودراستها وعرضها، وتدعم برامج التوثيق والبحث العلمي التي يقوم بها الأفراد، والمؤسسات المهتمة بهذا المجال.
4 - تحدد اللوائح ضوابط تصنيف قطع التراث الشعبي.
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 34 explained in plain English
This article regulates the classification of heritage artifacts (folk heritage items) and their protection.
Paragraph (1) – Categories:
- Category (A): items of high importance.
- Category (B): items of medium importance.
- Category (C): items of little importance.
Paragraph (2) – Protection: heritage artifacts classified in the antiquities register are subject to the special protection of movable antiquities set out in the Law.
Paragraph (3) – Role of the Authority: the Authority contributes to documenting, studying and exhibiting heritage artifacts, and supports the documentation and scientific research programs carried out by individuals and interested institutions.
Paragraph (4): the regulations set the criteria for classifying heritage artifacts.
Under Article 1, heritage artifacts are the tools and items that people made or used in later periods to run their daily lives, such as food, clothing, housing, education, self-defense and so on.
In practical terms, a heritage item classified in the register receives the same protection as a movable antiquity, and the restrictions the Law places on movable antiquities apply to it. Anyone who owns heritage items and wants to know what their classification means would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in antiquities and urban heritage law.
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 34 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What are the categories for classifying heritage artifacts?
Category (A) is high importance, Category (B) is medium importance, and Category (C) is little importance.
Are heritage items protected like antiquities?
Heritage artifacts classified in the antiquities register are subject to the special protection of movable antiquities set out in the Law.
Does the Authority support documenting folk heritage?
Yes. It contributes to documenting, studying and exhibiting heritage artifacts, and supports the documentation and scientific research programs of individuals and institutions.
More articles on Registering and Classifying Antiquities
- Article 2
All fixed and movable antiquities in the Kingdom and its maritime areas are public property of the State except for stated exceptions, and the owner of a movable antiquity must present it to the Commission for registration within two years of the Law taking effect.
تعد جميع الآثار الثابتة والمنقولة الموجودة في المملكة، أو في المناطق البحرية الخاضعة لسيادتها، أو ولايتها القانونية من الأملاك العامة للدولة، ويستثنى من ذلك ما
- Article 7
The Commission decides what is an antiquity or urban heritage and what must be registered, and registration means the State recognizes the antiquity's importance and preserves, maintains and displays it.
تتولى الهيئة تقرير أثرية الآثار والتراث العمراني وتحديد ما يجب تسجيله منها، ويترتب على تسجيل أثرٍ ما إقرار الدولة بأهميته الوطنية أو التاريخية أو الثقافية أو ال
- Article 8
The Commission keeps an antiquities register covering fixed and movable antiquities, historic sites and folk heritage sites and pieces, and the President may cancel registration in whole or in part.
1 - تضع الهيئة سجلاً يسمى (سجل الآثار) تسجل فيه جميع الآثار، ويشمل ما يأتي: أ - الآثار الثابتة، والمنقولة. ب - المواقع التاريخية، ومواقع التراث الشعبي، بحسب تصن
- Article 25
Historic sites and folk heritage sites are classified into categories (A), (B) and (C) according to their importance, and the protection rules for archaeological sites apply to them.
1 - يكون تصنيف المواقع التاريخية ومواقع التراث الشعبي على النحو الآتي: الفئة (أ) المواقع ذات الأهمية العالية. الفئة (ب) المواقع ذات الأهمية المتوسطة. الفئة (ج)
- Article 45
The Authority creates the urban heritage register and classifies its buildings and sites into categories A, B and C; classification covers the building, its fittings and surrounding urban and natural areas, and registration may be cancelled.
1 - تضع الهيئة سجلاً يسمى (سجل التراث العمراني)؛ تسجل فيه جميع مواقع ومباني التراث العمراني ومناطقه، وتكون درجات التصنيف على النحو الآتي: الفئة (أ) المباني والم
- Article 62
The Authority may register in the antiquities register those museum exhibits that meet the specifications of national antiquities, and the museum may not sell them or take them out of the Kingdom except with the Authority's approval.
للهيئة تسجيل ما تنطبق عليه مواصفات قطع الآثار الوطنية من معروضات المتاحف في سجل الآثار، ولا يجوز للمتحف بيع هذه القطع، أو إخراجها خارج المملكة إلا بعد موافقة ال
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.