Article 9 of the Saudi Tourism Law
المادة 9 من نظام السياحة
The article allows a comprehensive service center or electronic platform for tourism, requires the Ministry to maintain a published tourism database, and requires specified entities to provide it with information.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- مع مراعاة ما تقدمه المراكز أو المنصات الإلكترونية -القائمة- التابعة لجهات حكومية من خدمات وبمراعاة عدم الازدواجية في الأدوار؛ للوزير بقرار منه -بعد التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- إنشاء مركز خدمة شامل أو منصة إلكترونية، لتقديم الخدمات اللازمة في قطاع السياحة والسياح ومقدمي خدمات الأنشطة السياحية، أو الربط مع مراكز أو منصات إلكترونية أخرى تابعة لجهات حكومية، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
2- تنشئ الوزارة قاعدة بيانات معلوماتية، تهدف إلى توفير البيانات والإحصاءات والمعلومات عن جميع الجوانب الخاصة بقطاع السياحة في المملكة بالتوافق مع الممارسات الدولية الرائدة في هذا المجال؛ وتوفير المعلومات اللازمة للمتعاملين في قطاع السياحة من مستثمرين وجمعيات ذات العلاقة بالمجال السياحي ومقدمي خدمات الأنشطة السياحية والسيّاح وغيرهم، على أن تحدَّث هذه البيانات والإحصاءات والمعلومات بانتظام -بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- وتنشر على الموقع الإلكتروني للوزارة، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
3- دون إخلال بالأنظمة واللوائح ذات العلاقة، على الجهات الحكومية والشركات والمؤسسات العاملة في قطاع السياحة -التي تحددها اللائحة- تزويد الوزارة بأي معلومات أو وثائق لديها ترى الوزارة أهميتها لتوفير المعلومات اللازمة للقطاع السياحي.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article deals with services and information in the tourism sector, in three paragraphs:
- Comprehensive service center or electronic platform: the Minister, by decision and after coordinating with the relevant bodies, may set up a comprehensive service center or electronic platform to provide services to the tourism sector, tourists and tourism activity providers, or link with other government centers and platforms. This takes into account what existing government centers and platforms provide and avoiding duplication of roles, as specified by the Regulations.
- Tourism database: the Ministry sets up a database providing data, statistics and information on aspects of the tourism sector in line with leading international practices, serving investors, associations, service providers, tourists and others. It is updated regularly in coordination with the relevant bodies and published on the Ministry's website, as specified by the Regulations.
- Duty to provide information to the Ministry: government bodies and companies and establishments working in the sector that the Regulations specify must provide the Ministry with any information or documents they hold that the Ministry considers important, without prejudice to the relevant laws.
This last paragraph does not automatically cover every establishment, only those the Regulations specify. It is followed by Article 10, which regulates precautionary measures when a tourism facility poses a danger.
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 9 of the Saudi Tourism Law
Does the Ministry of Tourism publish tourism sector statistics?
Yes. The Ministry sets up a database of tourism statistics and information, updated regularly and published on its website as specified by the Regulations.
Must tourism companies provide information to the Ministry?
Government bodies and companies and establishments working in the sector that the Regulations specify must provide the Ministry with the information or documents it considers important.
Can an electronic platform for tourism services be set up?
Yes. The Minister may by decision set up a comprehensive service center or electronic platform, or link with other government platforms, while avoiding duplication.
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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.

