Article 80 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 80 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام؛ بتسليم ما في حوزته إلى الهيئة دون تأخير.
2 - يُلزم كل من أحدث ضرراً في مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني المسجلة بدفع ما يقابل الضرر الحاصل، وفقاً لما تقرره المحكمة المختصة، ويودع مبلغ التعويض في صندوق الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني، ويخصص لإصلاح الضرر.
3 - يُلزم كل من قام بأيٍّ من أعمال الهدم الكلي أو الجزئي داخل حدود مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني أو البناء عليها دون الحصول على موافقة من الهيئة، وكل من خالف شروط الارتفاق وحقوقه المفروضة على الأراضي المجاورة لمواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني؛ بإزالة
ما أحدثه، وإعادة الموقع إلى ما كان عليه على نفقته، وتحت إشراف 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 80 explained in plain English
This article sets out obligations imposed on the violator in addition to the penalty, since it applies "without prejudice to the penalties set out in this Law".
Paragraph (1) – Handing over: the following must hand over what is in their possession to the Authority without delay:
- Anyone who found antiquities.
- Anyone who unlawfully took possession of antiquities owned by the State.
- Anyone who obtained antiquities in a manner that violates the provisions of the Law.
Paragraph (2) – Compensation: anyone who caused damage at registered antiquities and urban heritage sites must pay an amount equal to the damage, as the competent court decides. The compensation is paid into the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Fund and is allocated to repairing the damage.
Paragraph (3) – Removal and restoration: the following must remove what they did and restore the site to its previous state at their own expense and under the Authority's supervision:
- Anyone who carried out total or partial demolition within the boundaries of antiquities and urban heritage sites, or built on them, without the Authority's approval.
- Anyone who violated the conditions and rights of the easement imposed on land adjoining antiquities and urban heritage sites.
This means paying the fine or serving the sentence does not relieve the person of these obligations. Article 79, on confiscation by court judgment, comes before them. Anyone facing a claim for compensation or removal would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in antiquities and urban heritage law.
Practical example
The owner of a rest house built an annex within the boundaries of an archaeological site in the Eastern Province without the Authority's approval. In addition to the prescribed penalty, he must remove what he built and restore the site to its previous state at his own expense and under the Authority's supervision.
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 80 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Must a violator repair the damage to an archaeological site?
Anyone who caused damage at registered antiquities and urban heritage sites must pay an amount equal to the damage as the competent court decides, and the amount is paid into the Antiquities Fund and allocated to repairing the damage.
Who bears the cost of removing unlawful construction at an archaeological site?
The violator himself, who must remove what he did and restore the site to its previous state at his own expense and under the Authority's supervision.
Does the penalty replace handing over the antiquities?
No. These obligations apply without prejudice to the penalties set out in the Law.
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 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 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.