Article 16 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law

This article deals with what comes after a penalty, that is, how to return to practicing the craft activity lawfully after removal from the Register or cancellation of the license.

It provides that the Regulations (the Implementing Regulations of the Law under Article 1) set:

• The procedures for re-entry in the National Register of Craftspeople after removal.
• The procedures for obtaining the craft license again after cancellation.

The text shows that removal from the Register and cancellation of the license do not necessarily mean permanent exclusion from the activity, since the Law itself anticipates re-entry and re-obtaining the license and refers their procedures to the Regulations. The conditions, timing and documents required for this are not stated in the article and should not be assumed without referring to the Regulations.

Under the definitions, the National Register of Craftspeople is a database in which the data of craftspeople, their classifications, crafts and activities are recorded, and the craft license is what entitles its holder to practice a specific craft for commercial purposes or to trade as a main activity in handmade craft products.

In the context of the neighboring articles, Article 15 allows the maximum fine to be doubled on repetition of the same violation within three years of a final decision establishing it, and Article 17 provides that the Minister issues the Regulations within a period not exceeding 120 days of the Law's publication.

Anyone removed from the Register or whose license was cancelled and who wishes to return can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.