Article 2 of the Saudi Public Decency Regulations
المادة 2 من لائحة المحافظة على الذوق العام
The article provides that the Public Decency Regulations apply to everyone who visits public places.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري اللائحة على كل من يرتاد الأماكن العامة.
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 2 explained in plain English
Article 2 determines the scope of application of the Regulations as to persons, providing that they apply to everyone who visits public places.
The following is understood from this text:
- Generality: the phrase "everyone who" covers all, without distinction between citizen, resident and visitor; the article excepts no one.
- Link to the place: the basis of application is visiting public places; the Regulations do not concern what happens outside these places.
Under Article 1, public places are sites open to the public free of charge or for a fee, such as markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums, theaters, cinemas, stadiums, medical and educational facilities, gardens, parks, roads, beaches, means of transport, exhibitions and the like.
It is followed by Article 3, which requires everyone in a public place to respect the values, customs, traditions and prevailing culture in the Kingdom; this article determines whom the Regulations cover, and Article 3 begins to specify what they must do.
If a person is in a public place in the sense above, he is addressed by the provisions of the Regulations. Anyone against whom a violation has been issued who believes the place was not public can consult a specialized lawyer in administrative cases (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
A foreign tourist comes to visit Riyadh and walks through a shopping mall. Because the Regulations apply to everyone who visits public places, he is addressed by their provisions like any citizen or resident.
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 2 of the Saudi Public Decency Regulations
Do the Public Decency Regulations apply to tourists and foreigners?
The Regulations apply to everyone who visits public places, and the article excepts no one.
Do the Regulations apply inside homes?
The article ties the Regulations' application to visiting public places, which under Article 1 are sites open to the public.
More articles on Public Decency and Scope of the Regulations
- Article 1
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.
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
- 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.