Article 57 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 57 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
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 57 explained in plain English
This article regulates the classification of museums.
- Categories: three categories: (A), (B) and (C).
- Basis of classification:
- The level of displays.
- The variety of activities.
- What falls outside the categories: it is considered a "private collection".
- Detailed criteria: set by the regulations.
Unlike the classification of sites and items in other articles (high, medium and little importance), this article does not describe each category; it only states the basis of classification and refers the criteria to the regulations.
This rule is tied to the definition of a museum in Article 1: a place where archaeological, artistic, cultural, historical or scientific materials are displayed permanently, whose display achieves cultural, educational or entertainment goals, and which opens its doors to the public at fixed times. Anything else is called a "private collection".
Classification has practical importance, since Article 56 requires classification and a license from the Authority to establish a museum. Anyone who owns items and is thinking of displaying them benefits from knowing this distinction between a museum and a private collection before applying for classification.
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 contentGeneral Practice lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
General Practice lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
khobar Notary
Frequently asked questions about Article 57 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
How are museums classified in Saudi Arabia?
Into three categories (A), (B) and (C) according to the level of their displays and the variety of their activities, and the regulations set the classification criteria.
What is a private collection?
What does not fall within the three museum categories is considered a private collection.
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 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 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 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.