Public Decency Regulations- Saudi Arabia

Public Decency Regulations

status-2022

Article 1
In these Regulations, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings
assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

1. Regulations: The Public Decency Regulations.
2. Public Decency: A set of behaviors and morals which reflect the values,
principles, and identity of a society, and which are in line with the
fundamental principles stated in the Basic Law of Governance.

3. Public Place: Any site which is accessible to the public, whether free of
charge or for a fee, including marketplaces, shopping malls, hotels,
restaurants, cafes, museums, theatres, cinemas, showrooms, exhibition halls,
stadiums, arenas, clubs, medical and educational facilities, gardens, parks,
beaches, roads, walkways, public transport, and the like.

Article 2
These Regulations shall apply to any person who visits a public place.

Article 3
A person who visits a public place must respect the culture, traditions, customs,
and values prevalent in the Kingdom.

Article 4
No person shall appear in a public place wearing indecent clothing or clothing
which bear images, shapes, signs, or phrases that violate public decency.

Article 5
No person shall write or draw, or carry out a similar act, on public property or
the walls and components of a public place or on public transport, unless
authorized by the relevant agency.

Article 6
No person shall verbally or physically offend, harm, intimidate, or endanger
the visitors of a public place.

Article 7
The Minister of Interior shall, in coordination with the chairman of the board
of directors of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage and
other relevant agencies, determine the administrative agencies responsible for
enforcing these Regulations and the appropriate methods for imposing
penalties. The Minister of Interior may, in accordance with rules issued thereby,
delegate the enforcement duties, or part thereof, to licensed private security
companies.

Article 8
1. Subject to the violation classification table stipulated in Article 9 of these
Regulations and without prejudice to any harsher penalty in any other law,
a fine not exceeding five thousand riyals shall be imposed on any person
who violates the provisions of these Regulations. The fine shall be doubled
if the violation is repeated within one year from the date of committing the
first violation.
2. A person against whom a penalty decision is issued pursuant to paragraph
(1) of this Article may appeal the decision before the competent
administrative court.

Article 8: Paragraph (1) of this Article is amended by the Council of

Ministers Resolution No. (95), dated 2/2/1441H as follows:
Subject to the violation classification table stipulated in Article 9 of these
Regulations, a fine not exceeding five thousand riyals shall be imposed on any
person who violates the provisions of these Regulations. The fine shall be
doubled if the violation is repeated within one year from the date of committing
the first violation.

Article 9
The Ministry of Interior shall, in coordination with the General Authority for
Tourism and National Heritage and other relevant agencies, classify violations
and determine their corresponding fines pursuant to a table issued by the
Minister of Interior.

Article 10
These Regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into
force 30 days following the date of publication.

SOURCE: The Ministry of Interior