Article 10 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 10 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article requires the necessary details to be recorded on every printed material printed inside the Kingdom, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب أن تدون على كل مطبوعة تطبع داخل المملكة البيانات الورقية الضرورية بحسب ما تقرره اللائحة التنفيذية.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article imposes an obligation concerning every printed material printed inside the Kingdom, namely the duty to record the necessary details on it.
The scope of the article:
- What it covers: every printed material. Under Article 1, a printed material is any means of expression printed for circulation, whether a word, a drawing, a picture or a sound.
- Place of printing: printed materials printed inside the Kingdom.
- What details are required: the article does not specify them, but refers to what the Implementing Regulations provide.
The apparent purpose of this provision is to let the competent authorities and the public know the basic details of the printed material. The specifics of these details cannot be known from the Law alone; they are to be found in the Implementing Regulations.
This article comes after Article 9, which sets out what is prohibited from being published, and before Article 11, which allows a license to be assigned to others, leased or shared with others after the Ministry's approval. Article 10 concerns the formal side of the printed material, that is, the details that must appear on it, not its content.
Anyone who works in printing or publishing and needs to check the required details can refer to the Implementing Regulations or consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
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 10 of the Saudi Publications Law
What details must be written on a printed material?
The Implementing Regulations set them. The article requires the necessary details to be recorded on every printed material printed inside the Kingdom.
Does the article apply to books printed outside the Kingdom?
The article speaks of printed materials that are printed inside the Kingdom.
More articles on Approving Domestic Printed Materials
- Article 6
The article allows government bodies, educational and research institutions, scientific societies, literary clubs and private press institutions to issue non-periodical publications within their field and under their responsibility.
للجهات الحكومية، والمؤسسات التعليمية والبحثية، والجمعيات العلمية، والأندية الأدبية والثقافية، والمؤسسات الصحفية الأهلية إصدار مطبوعات غير دورية في مجال اختصاصها
- Article 13
The article requires two copies of a printed material to be submitted to the Ministry for approval before printing or circulation, and requires the Ministry to decide, with reasons, within 30 days, with a right to file a grievance.
على كل مؤلف أو ناشر أو طابع أو موزع يرغب في طباعة أي مطبوعة أو توزيعها أن يقدم نسختين منها إلى الوزارة لإجازتها قبل طبعها أو عرضها للتداول، وعلى الوزارة إجازة ا
- Article 14
The article requires a printing press to keep a register of the printed materials printed there, to be shown to the competent officials on request, and lets the Ministry exempt some printed materials in the Regulations.
على كل مطبوعة أن تحتفظ بسجل للمطبوعات التي تطبع فيها يبرز للمختصين عند الطلب، وللوزارة في اللائحة التنفيذية أن تستثني من شرط التسجيل ما تراه من مطبوعات.
- Article 15
The article makes the author, publisher and printer responsible for violations in a printed material printed or circulated without approval, then the distributor if they cannot be identified, then the seller.
المؤلف و الناشر و الطابع مسئولون عما يرد في المطبوعة من مخالفات إذا طبعت أو وضعت للتداول دون إجازتها، فإذا تعذرت معرفة أي منهم أصبح الموزع هو المسئول، وإلا فتقع
- Article 16
The article provides that the Ministry requires the author or publisher to submit the copies required for deposit of what is printed inside the Kingdom, according to the Deposit Law.
تكلف الوزارة المؤلف أو الناشر أن يقدم وفق نظام الإيداع، النسخ المطلوبة منه للإيداع، مما يطبع داخل المملكة.
- Article 42
The article requires the Ministry to assign qualified people with competence, specialization and familiarity with the laws to approve scientific and intellectual works, and allows it to use non-full-time people from outside.
على الوزارة أن تكلف لإجازة الأعمال العلمية والفكرية، من تتوافر فيهم الأهلية لذلك من ذوي الكفاية والتخصص، والإلمام بالأنظمة، وتعليمات النشر، ولها أن تستعين في ذل
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.