Article 3 of the Saudi Tourism Law
المادة 3 من نظام السياحة
A licensee must provide the best services, keep meeting license and classification requirements, register its personnel's data with the Ministry and update it within 3 months, and submit statistics.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المرخص له الالتزام بما يلي:
1- تقديم أفضل الخدمات، وفق المعايير المعتمدة.
2- الاستمرار بالالتزام بجميع الاشتراطات والمتطلبات اللازمة للترخيص والتصنيف المحدد له أثناء سريانهما، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
3- تسجيل بيانات جميع منسوبيه لدى الوزارة، وتحديث هذه البيانات في حال حدث أي تغيير فيها خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (ثلاثة) أشهر من تاريخ التغيير.
4- تقديم البيانات والمعلومات والإحصاءات السياحية إلى الوزارة، وفقاً لما تبينه اللائحة.
5- ما يصدر عن الوزارة من قرارات وتعليمات.
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 3 explained in plain English
Obtaining a tourism license under Article 2 is not the end of the road; it brings continuing obligations that this article sets for every licensee, whether a natural or legal person:
- Provide the best services according to the approved standards.
- Keep complying with all the requirements of the license and the classification assigned to it for as long as they remain in force, as specified by the Regulations. Meeting the requirements only when the license is issued is not enough.
- Register the data of all its personnel with the Ministry, and update it within no more than 3 months of any change, such as hiring a new employee or an employee's departure.
- Submit tourism data, information and statistics to the Ministry, as set out in the Regulations.
- Comply with the decisions and instructions issued by the Ministry.
Article 4 adds another obligation for some activities: providing financial guarantees. Failing to meet these obligations is a violation of the Law's provisions. Anyone facing action over one of these obligations can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial or administrative cases.
Practical example
A hotel in Medina licensed by the Ministry of Tourism has hired three new reception employees. The hotel must update its personnel data with the Ministry within no more than 3 months of the date of this change.
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 3 of the Saudi Tourism Law
How long does a licensee have to update employee data with the Ministry of Tourism?
Personnel data must be updated within no more than 3 months of the date of any change in it.
Is it enough to meet the license requirements only when it is issued?
No. The licensee must keep complying with all the license and classification requirements while they remain in force.
Must a licensee submit statistics to the Ministry?
Yes. It must submit tourism data, information and statistics to the Ministry as set out in the Regulations.
More articles on Obligations of Tourism Licensees
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.