Article 3 of the Saudi Publications Law

This article sets out the aims that printed materials and publishing activity are meant to serve, which are:

• Calling to the true religion.
• Calling to noble morals.
• Guiding to everything that is good and right.
• Spreading culture and knowledge.

The wording of the article, "the aims shall include", indicates that these are intended aims. The article itself does not impose a detailed obligation or a penalty; it sets a general framework that helps in understanding the other provisions of the Law.

These aims apply to printed materials in the broad sense defined in Article 1, meaning any means of expression printed for circulation, whether a word, a drawing, a picture or a sound, and to the activities listed in Article 2, such as printing presses, libraries, publishing, distribution and artistic production.

Article 4 follows, which requires a license from the Ministry to carry out any of the activities in Article 2, without exempting anyone from any license required by other laws, and which refers the license term and the renewal period to the Implementing Regulations. Article 3 therefore states the purpose, and the articles after it set the practical rules.

Anyone who needs to assess particular content in light of the Law can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.