Article 1 of the Saudi Public Decency Regulations
المادة 1 من لائحة المحافظة على الذوق العام
The article defines public decency as the behavior and manners that express the society's values, principles and identity, and public places as sites open to the public free of charge or for a fee.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لأغراض تطبيق هذه اللائحة، يقصد بالعبارات والألفاظ الآتية المعاني الواردة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق غير ذلك:
1- اللائحة: لائحة المحافظة على الذوق العام.
2- الذوق العام: مجموعة السلوكيات والآداب التي تعبر عن قيم المجتمع ومبادئه وهويته، بحسب الأسس والمقومات المنصوص عليها في النظام الأساسي للحكم.
3- الأماكن العامة: المواقع المتاح ارتيادها للعموم –مجاناً أو بمقابل- من الأسواق، والمجمعات التجارية، والفنادق، والمطاعم، والمقاهي، والمتاحف، والمسارح، ودور السينما، والملاعب، ودور العرض، والمنشآت الطبية والتعليمية، والحدائق، والمتنزهات، والأندية، والطرق، والممرات، والشواطئ، ووسائل النقل المختلفة، والمعارض، ونحو ذلك.
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 1 explained in plain English
Article 1 sets two basic definitions through which the scope of the Regulations is understood:
- Public decency: the set of behavior and manners that express the society's values, principles and identity, according to the foundations and components set out in the Basic Law of Governance.
- Public places: sites open to the public, whether free of charge or for a fee. The article gives many examples, among them:
- Markets, shopping malls and exhibitions.
- Hotels, restaurants and cafes.
- Museums, theaters, cinemas, performance venues, stadiums and clubs.
- Medical and educational facilities.
- Gardens, parks and beaches.
- Roads, walkways and the various means of transport.
The phrase "and the like" at the end of the definition means the list gives examples and is not exhaustive, so any site open to the public falls within the meaning. By the text of the definition, places that are not open to the public are not covered.
Article 2 then provides that the Regulations apply to everyone who visits public places; this definition is what determines where the Regulations apply. Anyone who needs to know whether a particular place counts as public in his own situation can consult a specialized lawyer in administrative cases (the Board of Grievances).
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Public Decency Regulations
What is public decency under the Regulations?
The set of behavior and manners that express the society's values, principles and identity, according to the foundations and components set out in the Basic Law of Governance.
Are restaurants and cafes public places?
Yes. The definition lists them expressly among public places, along with markets, hotels, gardens, beaches, means of transport and others.
Are paid places considered public places?
Yes. The definition covers sites open to the public free of charge or for a fee.
More articles on Public Decency and Scope of the Regulations
- Article 2
The article provides that the Public Decency Regulations apply to everyone who visits public places.
تسري اللائحة على كل من يرتاد الأماكن العامة.
- Article 3
The article requires everyone in a public place to respect the values, customs, traditions and prevailing culture in the Kingdom.
يجب على كل من يكون في مكان عام احترام القيم والعادات والتقاليد والثقافة السائدة في المملكة.
- Article 10
Article 10 provides that the Public Decency Regulations are published in the Official Gazette and take effect thirty days after the date of publication.
تُنشر اللائحة في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها بعد (ثلاثين) يوماً من تاريخ نشرها.
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.