Article 63 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 63 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Only museums that hold the "Saudi Museum" logo may take part in exhibitions outside the Kingdom and in joint activities with museums abroad, and only after the Authority's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للمتاحف التي تحمل شعار (متحف سعودي) فقط المشاركة في معارض خارج المملكة، ونشاطات مشتركة مع متاحف خارجية، وذلك بعد موافقة 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 63 explained in plain English
This article limits external participation to a specific class of museums.
- Who may: museums that hold the "Saudi Museum" logo only.
- What is permitted:
- Taking part in exhibitions outside the Kingdom.
- Joint activities with museums abroad.
- The condition: the Authority's approval.
- The details: the regulations set the controls for this.
The word "only" in the text is decisive: a museum that does not hold the logo may not take part in these exhibitions and activities, even if it is licensed. Holding the logo alone is not enough; the Authority's approval is also needed for each participation.
This is one of the benefits linked to the "Saudi Museum" logo (see Articles 58 and 60).
This rule is connected to Article 62, which does not permit a museum to take items registered in the antiquities register out of the Kingdom except with the Authority's approval; taking part in an exhibition abroad may involve taking items out, so the restrictions on that apply.
Anyone who runs a private museum and looks to international cooperation must first obtain the "Saudi Museum" logo, then request the Authority's approval for each participation, as set out in the regulations.
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 63 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Can any museum take part in an exhibition outside the Kingdom?
No. Only museums that hold the Saudi Museum logo may do so, after the Authority's approval.
Is holding the Saudi Museum logo enough for external participation?
No. The Authority's approval must also be obtained, and the regulations set the controls for this.
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 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
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.