Heritage Commission slaps fines on 11 persons for unlicensed trade in portable antiquities

RIYADH — The Heritage Commission slapped financial fines on 11 violators for dealing in portable antiquities without obtaining the required regulatory licenses. The commission clarified that the violations involved displaying and selling antiquities on online platforms without registering or documenting them with the Heritage Commission or obtaining the necessary licenses, in explicit violation of the provisions of the Law of Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage. The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation, reaching up to SR15,000 in some cases. The move is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to protect cultural heritage in the Kingdom and enhance compliance with regulations governing the sector. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring violations related to heritage sites and collections across the Kingdom and taking the necessary legal and regulatory actions against all those who have proven to have contravened the regulations. The Heritage Commission called on all citizens and residents to report any violations or non-compliant practices related to heritage sites or collections through its social media channels. This is through visiting the commission’s branches across the Kingdom or through the Archaeological Site Reporting platform or by contacting the unified security operations center at 911.