Article 30 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 30 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article prohibits newspapers and their staff from accepting any benefit, such as gifts or subsidies, from internal or external bodies except after the Ministry's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر على الصحف وعلى العاملين فيها قبول أي منفعة، من هبات أو إعانات أو غيرها، من جهات داخلية أو خارجية؛ إلا بعد موافقة الوزارة.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article aims to protect the independence of newspapers from financial influence, and prohibits:
- Newspapers themselves.
- Their staff.
from accepting any benefit, whether:
- Gifts.
- Or subsidies.
- Or other benefits.
The prohibition covers benefits offered by internal or external bodies alike.
The only exception is where acceptance is after the Ministry's approval (the Ministry of Media under Article 1). The prohibition is not absolute, but accepting without prior approval violates the Law.
Note that the phrases "any benefit" and "other" are broad, so the provision is not limited to cash. The provision also covers the newspaper's staff, not only its owner.
This article comes after Article 29, which allows the Ministry to withdraw a newspaper's license if it is not issued within two years of notification of the license or if it stops for a continuous period of more than a year. After it comes Article 31, which provides that a newspaper may not be prevented from being issued except in exceptional circumstances and after the Prime Minister's approval. Anyone offered support or a benefit who wants to know the legal position can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
A foreign body offered a local newspaper a financial subsidy to cover operating costs. The newspaper may not accept it except after the approval of the Ministry of Media, and the same applies if the benefit is offered to one of its journalists.
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 30 of the Saudi Publications Law
May a newspaper accept donations or subsidies?
Not except after the Ministry's approval, whether from internal or external bodies.
Does the prohibition cover journalists working at the newspaper?
Yes. The article prohibits newspapers and their staff from accepting any benefit except after the Ministry's approval.
More articles on Liability of the Editor-in-Chief and Writer
- Article 24
The article provides that local newspapers are not subject to control except in exceptional circumstances approved by the Prime Minister.
لا تخضع الصحف المحلية للرقابة، إلا في الظروف الاستثنائية التي يقرها رئيس مجلس الوزراء.
- Article 33
The article makes the newspaper's editor-in-chief, or whoever acts in his place in his absence, responsible for what is published in it, along with the responsibility of the writer for what the text contains.
1- رئيس تحرير الصحيفة أو من يقوم مقامه في حالة غيابه، مسئول عما ينشر فيها. 2 - مع عدم الإخلال بمسئولية رئيس التحرير أو من يقوم مقامه يكون كاتب النص مسئولًا عما
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.