Article 79 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 79 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير (حسن النية)؛ تصادر بحكم قضائي الآثار المنقولة التي خالف حائزها أحكام المواد (الثانية، والسادسة والثلاثين، والأربعين) من هذا النظام، والأموال المتحصلة منها، وكذلك جميع الأدوات، والمواد، والآلات، ووسائط النقل التي استخدمت في المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المواد (الحادية والسبعين، والثانية والسبعين، والثالثة والسبعين، والثامنة والسبعين) من هذا النظام.
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 79 explained in plain English
This article regulates confiscation in antiquities cases.
What is confiscated:
- Movable antiquities whose holder has violated the provisions of Articles 2, 36 and 40 of the Law, and the funds derived from them.
- All tools, materials, machines and means of transport used in the violations set out in Articles 71, 72, 73 and 78.
Conditions and safeguards of confiscation:
- It is by court judgment, so it is not done by administrative decision.
- Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; confiscation does not affect the rights of those who acted in good faith and are not violators.
Article 78, one of the articles mentioned here, applies the smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states to smuggling antiquities, and requires the Customs Authority to hand seized antiquities over to the Authority.
Note that confiscation under the second paragraph covers means of transport, so a car used to commit one of the specified violations may be confiscated by court judgment. The article does not set out how good faith is proved.
It is followed by Article 80, which requires violators to hand over antiquities, pay compensation and remove violations, without prejudice to the penalties. Anyone whose funds or car have been confiscated in an antiquities case, or who is a bona fide third party, would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person used his car and digging equipment to excavate for antiquities without a license at a site in the north of the Kingdom. By court judgment, the tools, machines and means of transport he used may be confiscated, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
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 79 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Is the car used in stealing antiquities confiscated?
Means of transport used in the violations set out in Articles 71, 72, 73 and 78 are confiscated by court judgment, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
Is confiscation by decision of the Authority?
No. The article provides that confiscation is by court judgment.
Are the funds from selling antiquities confiscated?
Movable antiquities whose holder has violated the provisions of Articles 2, 36 and 40, and the funds derived from them, are confiscated.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 2
All fixed and movable antiquities in the Kingdom and its maritime areas are public property of the State except for stated exceptions, and the owner of a movable antiquity must present it to the Commission for registration within two years of the Law taking effect.
تعد جميع الآثار الثابتة والمنقولة الموجودة في المملكة، أو في المناطق البحرية الخاضعة لسيادتها، أو ولايتها القانونية من الأملاك العامة للدولة، ويستثنى من ذلك ما
- Article 36
No movable antiquity may be acquired without proof of lawful ownership and its presentation to the Authority for registration; the holder is responsible for preserving it and must notify the Authority at once if it is lost, damaged or stolen.
لا يجوز اقتناء أي أثر منقول بأي شكل من أشكال الاقتناء دون حمل ما يثبت شرعية ملكيته، على أن يعرض على الهيئة لتسجيله، ويعد حائز الأثر مسؤولاً عن المحافظة عليه، ول
- Article 40
Anyone who brings an antiquity or heritage item into the Kingdom must comply with international agreements, declare it to customs and register it with the Authority within 3 weeks, and may take it out after the Authority's approval.
يجب على كـل من يُحضر معه إلى المملكة قطعة أثرية أو تراثية الالتزام بالاتفاقيات الدولية المنظمة لذلك، التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها، والتصريح بها لموظفي الجمارك،
- 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 78
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.
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 بتس
More articles on Recording Antiquities Violations and Confiscation
- Article 78
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.
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 بتس
- 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.