Article 11 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law

This article adds another form of support for the craft sector: organized collective action through associations. It provides that the Commission (the Heritage Commission) encourages the establishment of specialized associations in the field of crafts and handicrafts.

Understanding the article requires noting the following:

• The Commission's role is to encourage; it is not to establish the associations itself or license them. The article does not give the Commission the power to license associations.
• The associations meant are those specialized in the field of crafts and handicrafts.
• The article does not state the forms of encouragement or the conditions for establishing these associations.

The craft meant is what Article 2 defines: any activity based mainly on manual work, in both its artistic or heritage production category and its service category, such as repair, maintenance, restoration and marketing.

The article complements Article 10, which provides that the Commission cooperates with the public and private sectors to establish and equip centers, villages and complexes for craftspeople, train them and market their products, and that it coordinates to classify crafts as small enterprises.

Anyone who, with a group of craftspeople, wishes to found a specialized association can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases to learn the legal procedures.