Article 64 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 64 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Only museums that hold the "Saudi Museum" logo may accept financial subsidies and gifts in kind from outside the Kingdom, and only after the Authority's approval and in accordance with the governing controls.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للمتاحف التي تحمل شعار (متحف سعودي) فقط قبول الإعانات المالية والهدايا العينية من خارج المملكة، وذلك بعد موافقة الهيئة، ووفقاً للضوابط المنظمة لذلك.
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 64 explained in plain English
This article regulates support coming to museums from outside the Kingdom.
- Who may accept: museums that hold the "Saudi Museum" logo only.
- What may be accepted:
- Financial subsidies.
- Gifts in kind.
- Their source: from outside the Kingdom.
- The two conditions: the Authority's approval, and compliance with the controls governing this.
The word "only" means a museum that does not hold the logo may not accept this kind of external support. Holding the logo alone is also not enough; the Authority's approval must be obtained.
The article is limited to what comes from outside the Kingdom and does not address local subsidies and gifts. It does not set out the controls governing this or the amount that may be accepted.
This rule follows Article 63, which likewise limits to museums holding the "Saudi Museum" logo the right to take part in exhibitions outside the Kingdom and in joint activities with museums abroad after the Authority's approval. The Law thus ties museums' external dealings, whether participation or receiving support, to holding the logo and to the Authority's approval.
Anyone who runs a private museum and has been offered support or a gift by a foreign body must first check that their museum holds the logo, then request the Authority's approval before accepting.
Practical example
A foreign cultural foundation offers a private museum in Riyadh that holds the "Saudi Museum" logo a gift of a collection of printed books and manuscripts. The museum may not accept the gift except after the Authority's approval and in accordance with the controls governing this; if the museum did not hold the logo, it would not be permitted to accept it.
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
Frequently asked questions about Article 64 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Can a private museum accept donations from abroad?
This is permitted only for museums that hold the Saudi Museum logo, after the Authority's approval and in accordance with the governing controls.
Is holding the logo enough to accept a foreign gift?
No. The Authority's approval must also be obtained.
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.