Article 19 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 19 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تجاز المطبوعات الخارجية، أو ترفض مع بيان الأسباب خلال ثلاثين يومًا من تاريخ تسلم الطلب، أما الصحف فتعامل وفقًا لما تحدده 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 19 explained in plain English
This article sets a time limit for deciding requests to approve external printed materials:
- An external printed material is approved or rejected within 30 days of the date the request is received.
- If it is rejected, the reasons must be stated.
- Newspapers are excluded from this provision, as they are treated as the Implementing Regulations provide.
The importance of this article is that it gives the importer or applicant a clear time limit to learn the fate of the request, and requires reasons for a rejection, which lets them understand the reason. The article does not state what follows if the period passes without a reply.
As for the standard on which the decision is based, Article 18 sets it: 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 and conflicts with morals.
After it comes Article 20, which requires every Saudi who issues a non-periodical printed material outside the Kingdom and asks the Ministry to approve it to attach to the request proof of depositing the required copies according to the Deposit Law. Anyone whose request is delayed or rejected can 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 19 of the Saudi Publications Law
What is the maximum time to reply to a request to approve an imported book?
Thirty days from the date the request is received, with reasons stated in case of rejection.
Does the thirty-day period apply to foreign newspapers?
No. Newspapers are treated as the Implementing Regulations provide.
More articles on Foreign Printed Materials and Imports
- Article 18
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.
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.
- 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.