Article 78 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 78 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
The smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states apply to smuggling antiquities, and the Customs Authority hands seized antiquities over to the Authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تطبق على تهريب الآثار الأحكام الخاصة بالتهريب، المنصوص عليها في نظام (قانون) الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، على أن تقوم مصلحة الجمارك بتسليم الآثار المضبوطة إلى الهيئة.
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 78 explained in plain English
This article sets out the provisions that apply to smuggling antiquities.
- The provisions that apply: the smuggling provisions set out in the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
- Fate of seized antiquities: the Customs Authority hands them over to the Authority.
This means this Law does not set a special penalty for smuggling antiquities, but refers to the smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law. This article does not set out those provisions or the penalties in them, so they must be looked up in that law.
As for antiquities seized in smuggling operations, they do not stay with customs; the Customs Authority hands them over to the Authority, which is the body responsible for antiquities.
Smuggling differs from the other cases that the Law punishes with a fine or imprisonment in separate articles, such as Article 77, which brings together a number of violations punishable by a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000. It is followed by Article 79, which deals with confiscating antiquities, funds and tools by court judgment in specified cases, including the violations set out in this article.
Anyone facing an accusation of smuggling antiquities, or who has had items seized at customs ports, should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Customs officers at a border crossing catch a traveler trying to take archaeological pieces hidden in his bag out of the country without a permit. The smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states apply to this incident, and the Customs Authority hands the seized pieces over to the Authority.
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 78 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What is the penalty for smuggling antiquities in Saudi Arabia?
The smuggling provisions set out in the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf apply to smuggling antiquities.
What happens to antiquities seized at customs?
The Customs Authority hands the seized antiquities over to the Authority.
More articles on Recording Antiquities Violations and Confiscation
- Article 79
Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, movable antiquities involved in violations and the funds derived from them, and the tools, machines and means of transport used in specified violations, are confiscated by court judgment.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير (حسن النية)؛ تصادر بحكم قضائي الآثار المنقولة التي خالف حائزها أحكام المواد (الثانية، والسادسة والثلاثين، والأربعين) من هذا النظام، و
- Article 80
Without prejudice to penalties, anyone who found antiquities or obtained them in violation must hand them over, anyone who damaged registered sites must pay compensation, and anyone who demolished or built without approval must remove it and restore the site at his expense.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام: 1 - يُلزم كل من عثر على آثار، أو استولى على آثار مملوكة للدولة بصورة غير مشروعة، أو حصل على آثار بطريقة مخ
- Article 81
Without prejudice to penalties, where survey, excavation, export, trading or museum licenses are violated, the committee provided for in Article 90 may stop the activity, or suspend or permanently cancel the license.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، في حالة مخالفة الأحكام والشروط المتعلقة بتراخيص المسح، أو التنقيب، أو التصدير، أو الاتجار، أو المتاحف؛ فلل
- Article 82
Anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in committing any violation under the Law is punished with the same penalty set for it.
يعاقب كل من اشترك بطريق الاتفاق، أو التحريض، أو المساعدة في ارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بالعقوبة نفسها المقررة لها.
- Article 83
Attempting any violation of the Law is punished by no more than half of the maximum penalty prescribed for it.
يعاقب على الشروع في أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة لها.
- Article 84
If a violation is punishable under the Law of Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage and under another law, the more severe penalty is applied.
إذا كانت المخالفة معاقباً عليها بموجب هذا النظام ونظام آخر؛ فتطبق العقوبة الأشد.
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.