Article 75 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 75 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Anyone who violates the conditions and provisions relating to antiquities and urban heritage in a license he has been granted for restoring archaeological and heritage buildings is punished by a fine not exceeding SAR 70,000.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (سبعين ألف) ريال كل من خالف الشروط المتعلقة بالآثار والتراث العمراني في الرخصة الممنوحة له الخاصة بترميم المباني الأثرية والتراثية وأحكامها
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 75 explained in plain English
This article punishes violating a restoration license. It was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/67) dated 12/8/1442 AH, and the explanation here is of the text in force after the amendment.
- The penalty: a fine not exceeding SAR 70,000. The article does not provide for imprisonment.
- The offender: a person who has been granted a license for restoring archaeological and heritage buildings.
- The act: violating the conditions relating to antiquities and urban heritage in the license and its provisions.
This means that obtaining the license is not enough; its conditions relating to antiquities and urban heritage must be complied with. Someone who obtains a restoration license and then carries out work that violates those conditions is exposed to this fine.
Note that the text limits the violation to the conditions relating to antiquities and urban heritage, and does not mention all the license's other conditions. The fine also has only a maximum, with no minimum.
This article comes after Article 74, which punishes with imprisonment and a fine acts such as altering a heritage building without approval and defacing antiquities, and before Article 76, which punishes with a fine other acts such as making copies of antiquities for commercial purposes without a license. This article and those that follow thus represent violations whose penalty is limited to a fine.
Anyone who works in restoring heritage buildings and faces a violation under this article would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in antiquities and urban heritage law.
Practical example
The owner of a heritage house in Taif obtained a license to restore it on conditions relating to preserving the original facade, then replaced the old wooden windows with modern ones in breach of those conditions. This exposes him to a fine not exceeding SAR 70,000.
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 75 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What is the penalty for violating the conditions of a heritage building restoration license?
A fine not exceeding SAR 70,000 for anyone who violates the conditions relating to antiquities and urban heritage in the license granted to him for restoring archaeological and heritage buildings.
Does it include imprisonment?
No. The article provides for a fine only.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/67 — 12/8/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/67) وتاريخ 1442/8/12هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي: "يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (سبعين ألف) ريال كل من خالف الشروط المتعلقة بالآثار والتراث العمراني في الرخصة الممنوحة له الخاصة بترميم المباني الأثرية والتراثية وأحكامها".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (عشرين ألف) ريـال كل من خالف الشروط المتعلقة بالآثار والتراث العمراني في الرخصة الممنوحة له الخاصة بترميم المباني الأثرية والتراثية، وأحكامها.
More articles on Antiquities Offenses and Penalties
- Article 6
The article prohibits encroaching on, altering, damaging or defacing archaeological and urban heritage sites in any way, and bars placing signs and advertising on them without the Commission's approval.
1- يحظر التعدي على مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، أو تحويرها، أو إزالتها، أو إلحاق الضرر بها، أو تشويهها بالكتابة، أو الطلاء، أو النقش، أو إلصاق الإعلانات عليها
- Article 71Amended by M/67
Anyone who unlawfully takes possession of an antiquity belonging to State property is punished by imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years and a fine of SAR 50,000 to SAR 500,000, or either penalty.
يعاقب بالسجن لمدة لا تقل عن (ستة) أشهر ولا تزيد على (سبع) سنوات، وبغرامة لا تقل عن (خمسين ألف) ريال ولا تزيد على (خمسمائة ألف)، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من
- Article 72Amended by M/67
Imprisonment from 3 months to 3 years and a fine of SAR 20,000 to SAR 300,000, or either penalty, for anyone who interferes with an antiquity or heritage site or excavates without a license.
يعاقب بالسجن لمدة لا تقل عن (ثلاثة) أشهر ولا تزيد على (ثلاث) سنوات، وبغرامة لا تقل عن (عشرين ألف) ريال ولا تزيد على (ثلاثمائة ألف) ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتي
- Article 73Amended by M/67
Imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or either, for forging antiquities, demolishing or building at their sites without approval, violating the easement, and deliberately salvaging submerged antiquities.
يعاقب بالسجن لمدة لا تزيد على (سنتين) وبغرامة لا تزيد على (مائتي ألف) ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من: 1- قلد أثراً أو زيفه مدعياً أثريته. 2- قام بأي من أ
- Article 74Amended by M/67
Imprisonment of up to 1 year and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either, for altering heritage buildings without approval, removing rubble, dumping waste, and defacing antiquities.
يعاقب بالسجن لمدة لا تزيد على (سنة) وبغرامة لا تزيد على (مائة ألف) ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من: 1- غيّر مبنى أو موقع تراث عمراني، أو أجرى في البيئة ال
- Article 76Amended by M/67
A fine of up to SAR 60,000 for commercial copying of antiquities without a license, concealing discovered antiquities, selling or exporting an antiquity in violation of the Law, and placing signs without approval.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (ستين ألف) ريال كل من: 1- حاز أو صنع نماذجاً أو نسخاً للآثار لأغراض تجارية دون ترخيص من الوزارة. 2- أخفى الآثار التي اكتشفها أو عثر علي
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.