Article 12 of the Saudi Security Surveillance Cameras Law
المادة 12 من نظام استخدام كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية
The article sets fines for violating the cameras law from SAR 500 to SAR 20,000 depending on the type of violation, and allows the Minister to issue a table of violations the violator must remove within a set period.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل شخص ذي صفة طبيعية أو اعتبارية خاصة -خاضع لأحكام النظام- يخالف أي حكم من أحكام النظام وفقاً للآتي:
أ- غرامة مقدارها (خمسمائة) ريال عن كل كاميرا من كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية، وعن كل جهاز من أجهزة أنظمة مراقبة الكاميرات الأمنية، مخالف للمواصفات الفنية المبينة في وثيقة الشروط.
ب- غرامة مقدارها (ألف) ريال عن كل كاميرا من كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية، وعن كل جهاز من أجهزة أنظمة مراقبة الكاميرات الأمنية، لم يُركب وفق ما حدد في وثيقة الشروط.
ج- غرامة مقدارها (ألف) ريال عن كل مخالفة لأحكام الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة) من النظام.
د- غرامة مقدارها (خمسة آلاف) ريال عن مخالفة عدم الاحتفاظ بالتسجيلات وفق ما ورد بالفقرة (2) من المادة (الرابعة) من النظام.
هـ- غرامة مقدارها (عشرة آلاف) ريال عن كل مخالفة لحكم الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة) من النظام.
و- غرامة مقدارها (عشرون ألف) ريال على كل من يقوم بنقل التسجيلات أو نشرها بالمخالفة لأحكام النظام، أو إتلاف أو تخريب أجهزة أنظمة كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية أو التسجيلات.
2- يصدر بقرار من الوزير جدول تحدَّد فيه المخالفات التي يُلزم فيها المخالف -خلال مدة محددة- بإزالة محل المخالفة، على أن يراعى أنه في حال انتهاء المدة المحددة دون أن يقوم بما ألزم به فتحتسب عليه مخالفة جديدة.
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 12 explained in plain English
This is the Law's penalties article. It applies to every natural person or private legal person subject to the Law who violates any of its provisions, without prejudice to any harsher penalty provided in another law. The fines are:
- SAR 500 for each camera and each device that violates the technical specifications set out in the conditions document.
- SAR 1,000 for each camera and each device not installed as set out in the conditions document.
- SAR 1,000 for each violation of paragraph 2 of Article 6, which is the requirement to place a visible sign or signs showing that the place is equipped with cameras.
- SAR 5,000 for not keeping recordings under paragraph 2 of Article 4, which requires keeping them for the period stated in the conditions document, keeping them unmodified when there is a report until the investigation ends, and handing them over on request.
- SAR 10,000 for each violation of paragraph 1 of Article 6, that is, installing cameras in prohibited places such as bathrooms, changing rooms, medical examination rooms and women's salons.
- SAR 20,000 on anyone who transfers or publishes recordings in violation of the Law, or destroys or sabotages the camera system devices or the recordings.
Note that the first two fines are calculated for each camera and each device, so the amount may multiply depending on the number of violating devices.
Removing the violation: the Minister issues by decision a table specifying the violations in which the violator is required to remove the subject of the violation within a set period, and if the period ends without the violator doing so, a new violation is counted against them.
These penalties are decided by the committee provided for in Article 11, and a person against whom a penalty decision is issued may challenge it before the Administrative Court within 60 days of being notified under Article 13.
To assess your facility's position on a particular violation, you may consult a lawyer specialized in administrative matters.
Practical example
A commercial warehouse in Riyadh was found to have installed 4 cameras that do not match the technical specifications in the conditions document. The fine is SAR 500 for each camera, so the total is SAR 2,000, and the owner may be required to remove the violation within a set period if it is included in the Minister's table.
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 12 of the Saudi Security Surveillance Cameras Law
What is the fine for publishing a clip from surveillance cameras?
The fine is SAR 20,000 on anyone who transfers or publishes recordings in violation of the Law, without prejudice to any harsher penalty in another law.
What is the fine for not keeping camera recordings?
SAR 5,000 for failing to keep recordings under paragraph 2 of Article 4.
What is the fine for installing a camera in a prohibited place?
SAR 10,000 for each violation of paragraph 1 of Article 6.
What happens if I do not remove the violation within the set period?
If the violation is one the Minister's table specifies and the period ends without it being removed, a new violation is counted against you.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 4
The article requires installing, maintaining and running cameras around the clock, keeping recordings for the period in the conditions document, and classifies bodies by sensitivity to decide whether they link to the operations rooms.
1- يجب على الخاضعين لأحكام النظام تركيب أجهزة أنظمة كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية وصيانتها، وتشغيلها على مدار الساعة. 2- يجب على الخاضعين لأحكام النظام الاحتفاظ بالت
- Article 6
The article prohibits installing cameras in private places such as bathrooms, changing rooms and examination rooms, requires visible signs showing that cameras are in use, and prohibits transferring or publishing recordings except with a specified permission.
1- يحظر تركيب كاميرات المراقبة الأمنية داخل الأماكن الآتية للفئات المشمولة بأحكام النظام: أ- غرف: (الكشف الطبي والتنويم، والعلاج الطبيعي، وتبديل الملابس)، ودورا
More articles on Fines for Violating the Cameras Law
- Article 9
The article provides that violations of the Law are detected and recorded in reports under the regulations' procedures, by employees the Minister of Interior names by decision.
1- تضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام وتثبت في محاضر وفق الإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة. 2- يتولى موظفون -يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من الوزير- ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام. وتحدد ال
- Article 10
The article allows the Ministry of Interior to assign the task of detecting some violations of the Law to the private sector, except violations of a security nature, under the relevant legal procedures.
يجوز للوزارة إسناد مهمات ضبط بعض مخالفات أحكام النظام -عدا المخالفات ذات الطابع الأمني- إلى القطاع الخاص؛ وذلك وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية ذات الصلة.
- Article 11
The article provides for one or more committees in each region, formed by decision of the Minister of Interior, of three members one of whom holds a Sharia or legal qualification, to examine violations and decide the penalty under Article 12.
تكوّن بقرار من الوزير، لجنة (أو أكثر) في كل منطقة، من ثلاثة أعضاء، يحمل أحدهم مؤهلاً شرعيّاً أو نظاميّاً؛ للنظر في المخالفات المنصوص عليها في النظام وتقرير العق
- Article 13
The article allows anyone against whom a penalty decision is issued under the cameras law to challenge it before the Administrative Court within 60 days of being notified of the decision.
يجوز لمن صدر في حقه قرار بالعقوبة التظلم منه أمام المحكمة الإدارية خلال (ستين) يومًا من تاريخ إبلاغه بالقرار.
- Article 15
The article allows the Minister or his delegate to give anyone who helps detect a violation a financial incentive reward of up to 10% of the fine collected, provided they are not a Ministry employee or someone engaged to detect violations or carry out oversight or inspection.
للوزير -أو من يفوضه- أن يمنح -وفقاً لضوابط وشروط يضعها الوزير- من يساعد في الكشف عن أي مخالفة لأحكام النظام مكافأةً ماليةً تشجيعية لا تزيد على (%10) من مبلغ الغ
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.