Article 18 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 18 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article provides that external printed materials are approved if they are free of anything that offends Islam or the system of government, harms the supreme interest of the state, or offends public decency.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تجاز المطبوعات الخارجية، إذا خلت من كل ما يسيء إلى الإسلام، أو نظام الحكم، أو يضر بالمصلحة العليا للدولة، أو يخدش الآداب العامة وينافي الأخلاق.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article sets the standard for approving external printed materials, meaning printed materials coming from outside the Kingdom. An external printed material is approved if it is free of anything that:
- Offends Islam.
- Or offends the system of government.
- Or harms the supreme interest of the state.
- Or offends public decency and conflicts with morals.
The wording of the article is positive: the starting point is that an external printed material is approved as long as it is free of these matters. Under Article 1, a printed material is any means of expression printed for circulation, whether a word, a drawing, a picture or a sound.
This article is complemented by Article 19, which regulates the time for deciding: external printed materials are approved or rejected with reasons stated within 30 days of the date the request is received, while newspapers are treated as the Implementing Regulations provide.
It is preceded by Article 17 on adding advertisements to films and tapes contracted for exploitation in the Kingdom. In practice, for anyone who imports books or printed materials, they should make sure the printed material is free of the four matters mentioned before applying for its approval. Anyone whose printed material is rejected can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
A distribution house in Riyadh imports a set of novels printed abroad. These novels are approved if they are free of anything that offends Islam or the system of government, harms the supreme interest of the state, or offends public decency, and the Ministry decides on the request within 30 days, giving reasons if it rejects.
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 18 of the Saudi Publications Law
When are imported books approved in Saudi Arabia?
If they are free of anything that offends Islam or the system of government, harms the supreme interest of the state, or offends public decency and conflicts with morals.
How long does it take to decide on approving an external printed material?
Under Article 19, they are approved or rejected, with reasons stated, within thirty days of the date the request is received.
More articles on Foreign Printed Materials and Imports
- Article 19
The article requires external printed materials to be approved or rejected, with reasons, within 30 days of receiving the request, and refers the treatment of newspapers to the Regulations.
تجاز المطبوعات الخارجية، أو ترفض مع بيان الأسباب خلال ثلاثين يومًا من تاريخ تسلم الطلب، أما الصحف فتعامل وفقًا لما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية.
- Article 20
The article requires every Saudi who issues a non-periodical printed material outside the Kingdom and asks for its approval to attach proof of depositing the required copies under the Deposit Law.
على كل سعودي يصدر مطبوعة غير دورية خارج المملكة، ويتقدم للوزارة بطلب إجازتها أن يرفق بطلبه ما يثبت إيداع النسخ المطلوبة، وفق نظام الإيداع.
- Article 21
The article exempts from the Ministry's control printed materials that government bodies, educational and research institutions, scientific societies, literary clubs and private press institutions import for their purposes.
لا تسري رقابة الوزارة على ما تستورده الجهات الحكومية والمؤسسات التعليمية والبحثية، والجمعيات العلمية، والأندية الأدبية والثقافية والمؤسسات الصحفية الأهلية من مط
- Article 22
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the regulation of importing and distributing external printed materials, and the procedures for facilitating researchers' carrying of books and subscribing to them for their scientific purposes.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية- في حدود أحكام هذا النظام- تنظيم استيراد المطبوعات الخارجية وتوزيعها. كما تحدد الإجراءات اللازمة لتسهيل اصطحاب الكتب والمطبوعات الأخرى، و
- Article 23
The article allows foreign newspapers to be printed in the Kingdom after the Prime Minister's approval, as set by the Implementing Regulations and consistent with the Law.
يجوز بعد موافقة رئيس مجلس الوزراء أن تطبع صحف أجنبية في المملكة وفقًا لما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية، وبما يتفق مع أحكام هذا النظام.
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.