Article 15 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law
المادة 15 من نظام الحرف والصناعات اليدوية · الفصل الخامس: المخالفات والعقوبات
The article allows the maximum fine in Article 14 to be doubled on repetition, and defines repetition as committing the same violation within three years of a final decision establishing it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تجوز مضاعفة الحد الأعلى للغرامة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، في حالة تكرار ارتكاب المخالف أيًّا من المخالفات المعاقب عليها بموجب أحكام النظام. ويُعد تكرارًا في أحكام النظام ارتكابُ المخالفة نفسها خلال (ثلاث) سنوات من صدور قرار نهائي بثبوتها.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article toughens the penalty for the repeat violator by allowing the maximum fine in paragraph 2 of Article 14 to be doubled.
The fine in that paragraph is not more than SAR 20,000, imposed by the committee referred to in Article 13 on a violator who did not correct his violation within the period given to him after being warned. If the maximum is doubled, it becomes SAR 40,000.
When may it be doubled?
In the case of the violator repeating any of the violations punishable under the Law. The article defines repetition precisely, with three elements:
- It must be the same violation, not a different one.
- It must occur within three years.
- The period is counted from a final decision establishing the earlier violation.
If a person commits a different violation, or commits the same violation after three years have passed from the final decision, or no final decision establishing the first violation had been issued, repetition in the sense of the article is not met.
Note that the text says "may", so doubling is permissive, not mandatory, and it concerns only the maximum fine; it does not touch the other measures in Article 14, such as removal, suspension and cancellation.
Anyone facing a doubled fine because of repetition can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
A final decision is issued establishing that a shop owner in Riyadh violated the quality standards for craft products. Two years later he commits the same violation. This is repetition under the article, so the maximum fine against him may reach SAR 40,000 instead of SAR 20,000.
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 15 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law
Is the fine doubled on a craftsperson who repeats a violation?
The maximum fine in paragraph 2 of Article 14 may be doubled in case of repetition.
What does repetition mean in the Handicrafts Law?
Committing the same violation within three years of a final decision establishing it.
Is doubling mandatory?
No. The text says doubling "may" be done, so it is permissive.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Craft Violations and Penalties
- Article 12
The article assigns supervision, inspection and detection of violations of the Law to employees the Minister of Culture names by decision, who have law-enforcement capacity, and allows the Ministry to use public and private bodies for this.
1- يتولى أعمال الرقابة والتفتيش وضبط المخالفات المنصوص عليها في النظام موظفون يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من الوزير، وتكون لهم صفة الضبط. 2- للوزارة الاستعانة بأي جهة من
- Article 13
The article provides for one or more committees formed by decision of the Minister of Culture to consider violations of the Law and impose penalties, with a three-year term and a right to file a grievance against their decisions before the Administrative Court.
1- تُكوّن بقرار من الوزير لجنة (أو أكثر) من ثلاثة أعضاء، يكون من بينهم مستشارٌ نظامي، ومختصٌّ بالحرف والصناعات اليدوية؛ للنظر في المخالفات المنصوص عليها في النظ
- Article 14
The article requires the Commission to warn those who violate specified provisions and give them a period to correct; if they do not, the committee imposes a fine not exceeding SAR 20,000 or measures such as removal, suspension and cancellation.
1- تنذر الهيئة كل من يخالف أحكام الفقرة (3) من المادة (الرابعة)، والفقرة (2) من المادة (الخامسة)، والمادتين (السابعة) و(الثامنة)، من النظام، وتمنحه مهلة تحددها
- Article 16
The article refers to the Regulations the procedures for re-entry in the National Register of Craftspeople after removal, and for obtaining the craft license again after cancellation.
تحدد اللائحة إجراءات إعادة القيد في السجل الوطني للحرفيين بعد شطبه، وإجراءات إعادة الحصول على الترخيص الحرفي بعد إلغائه.
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.