Article 20 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 20 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل سعودي يصدر مطبوعة غير دورية خارج المملكة، ويتقدم للوزارة بطلب إجازتها أن يرفق بطلبه ما يثبت إيداع النسخ المطلوبة، وفق نظام الإيداع.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article deals with a special case: a Saudi who issues a non-periodical printed material outside the Kingdom and then applies to the Ministry for its approval.
The rule is that he must attach to his request proof of depositing the required copies, and this is done according to the Deposit Law.
Conditions for the article to apply:
- The owner of the printed material must be a Saudi.
- The printed material must be non-periodical, such as a book, as distinct from a newspaper, which Article 1 defines as a printed material with a fixed title issued periodically or on occasions.
- It must be issued outside the Kingdom.
- He must submit a request for its approval to the Ministry.
The article does not specify the number of copies or the method of deposit; these are governed by the Deposit Law.
This article comes after Article 19, which requires external printed materials to be approved or rejected, with reasons stated, within 30 days of receipt of the request, and refers the treatment of newspapers to the Implementing Regulations. Attaching proof of deposit is therefore part of the documents for the request. After it comes Article 21, which exempts from the Ministry's control what certain bodies import for their purposes. Anyone who needs help with the approval procedures can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
A Saudi researcher published his book with a publishing house in Beirut and wants to distribute it in the Kingdom. When he submits a request to the Ministry of Media to approve the book, he must attach proof of depositing the required copies under the Deposit 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 20 of the Saudi Publications Law
What must a Saudi whose book was printed outside the Kingdom attach when requesting its approval?
Proof of depositing the required copies under the Deposit Law.
Does the article apply to newspapers?
The article is specific to non-periodical printed materials.
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 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 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.