Article 7 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 7 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article sets the license or renewal fee for the head office or a branch: SAR 2,000 for activities such as printing presses, publishing and advertising, and SAR 1,000 for activities such as libraries and photography.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحدد مقدار رسم الترخيص أو تجديده، للمقر الرئيسي أو الفرع وفق الآتي :
1 - ألفا ريال (2.000) لكل من النشاطات الآتية:
أ - المطابع.
ب - خدمات الإعداد لما قبل الطباعة.
ج - النشر.
د - التوزيع.
هـ - الإنتاج الفني الإذاعي أو التلفزيوني أو السينمائي.
و - الاستوديوهات التلفزيونية والإذاعية.
ز- الدراسات والاستشارات الإعلامية.
ح - الخدمات الصحفية.
ط - الدعاية والإعلان.
ي - العلاقات العامة.
ك - استيراد الأفلام وأشرطة الفيديو، أو بيعها، أو تأجيرها.
ل - إنتاج برامج الحاسب الآلي أو بيعها أو تأجيرها.
2 - ألف ريال (1.000) لكل من النشاطات الآتية:
أ - المكتبات.
ب - التسجيلات الصوتية والأسطوانات.
ج - الرسم والخط.
د - التصوير الفوتوغرافي.
هـ - النسخ والاستنساخ.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article sets out the amount of the fee for a license or its renewal, and the fee applies to the head office or a branch. The article divides the activities into two categories:
First: SAR 2,000 for each of:
- Printing presses, pre-press preparation services, publishing and distribution.
- Radio, television or cinema artistic production, and television and radio studios.
- Media studies and consultancy, and press services.
- Advertising and publicity, and public relations.
- Importing, selling or renting films and video tapes.
- Producing, selling or renting computer software.
Second: SAR 1,000 for each of:
- Libraries.
- Sound recordings and discs.
- Drawing and calligraphy.
- Photography.
- Copying and reproduction.
Note that the fee is the same for the initial license and for renewal, and that the article mentions the head office and the branch together, which means a branch is also subject to the fee as the article provides. The article does not mention some activities listed in Article 2, such as theater production and offices of foreign media outlets, so it sets no fee for them.
Anyone with a question about their situation can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
An establishment in Riyadh works in advertising and publicity and has a branch in Jeddah. The fee for the license or its renewal for advertising and publicity is SAR 2,000, and the article applies the fee to the head office or a branch.
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 7 of the Saudi Publications Law
How much is the fee for a library license?
SAR 1,000 for the license or its renewal.
How much is the fee for a printing press or publishing house license?
SAR 2,000 for the license or its renewal.
Does a branch pay a license fee?
The article sets the fee for the head office or a branch, according to the two categories mentioned.
More articles on Licensing Publication Activities
- Article 4
The article requires a license from the Ministry to carry out any activity in Article 2, without exempting anyone from other licenses, and refers its term and renewal to the Implementing Regulations.
1- لا يجوز مزاولة أي نشاط مما ذكر في المادة الثانية، إلا بترخيص من الوزارة، ولا يعفي هذا من الحصول على أي ترخيص توجبه الأنظمة الأخرى. 2- تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية
- Article 11
The article allows a license to be assigned to others, leased or shared with others, on condition of the Ministry's approval and consistency with the Law.
يجوز التنازل عن الترخيص للغير، أو تأجيره، أو إشراك آخرين فيه بعد موافقة الوزارة وبما يتفق مع أحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 12
The article requires heirs to notify the Ministry of the license holder's death within two months, and gives them the right to continue the activity after the Ministry's approval and in line with the Law.
إذا توفي صاحب الترخيص، فإن على الورثة إشعار الوزارة بذلك خلال شهرين من تاريخ الوفاة، ولهم الحق في استمرار النشاط بعد موافقة الوزارة، وبما يتفق مع أحكام هذا النظ
- Article 47
The article requires everyone carrying on an activity governed by the Law to regularize their situation in accordance with its provisions within two years of its coming into force.
على من يمارس أي نشاط من النشاطات التي يحكمها هذا النظام أن يقوم بتصحيح أوضاعه طبقًا للأحكام الواردة فيه، وذلك خلال سنتين من تاريخ نفاذه.
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.