Cultural Licenses Platform 'Abde’a'

The Cultural Licenses Platform "Abde’a" is an e-platform launched by the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2021. The platform allows practitioners, talents, and institutions to obtain permits to engage in cultural and artistic activities, enabling them to acquire licenses to operate in these sectors.
The Ministry of Culture aims to make the platform a reference that allows all categories to contribute to creating an organized cultural environment characterized by its ease, thereby advancing the cultural sector.

The platform offers various licensing services, including those for an expert in curating collections and museums, performing arts practitioner, music performance practitioner, sound management practitioner, music production practitioner, literary agent, Saudi coffee expert, craftsman, traditional foods, archaeological survey and excavation, and water sommelier.

The platform aims to enhance the private sector's participation in serving and growing local cultural activity, empower individuals and institutions to practice cultural activities, expand the community of cultural practitioners, support cultural presence in the local environment, and increase the level and efficiency of scientific outputs.

The platform offers several electronic services that enhance the vitality of the cultural sector in the Kingdom, increasing its efficiency and investment opportunities, making culture a dynamic field that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and plays an effective role in the growth of the national economy.

The "Performing Arts Practitioner" license provided by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission allows performers to present live shows in various performing arts fields at public entertainment venues such as events, theaters, hotels, shopping centers, cafes, and more. This license is valid for three years. The Music Commission offers a Music Practitioner license with a validity of two years.
The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission provides a Literary Agent license and a license for literary agency activities. These licenses enable individuals to engage in literary agency activities and represent authors as intermediaries between them and entities interested in their works, such as television, film, advertising, music production companies, and publishing houses. These licenses aim to help authors protect and understand their financial and legal rights.
The Museums Commission offers a 'Museum Collections Care Expert' license for specialists in the restoration, protection, unification, and maintenance of important cultural or environmental collections. The Music Commission provides licenses for Music Practitioners, Sound Management Practitioners, and Music Production Practitioners.

On June 28, 2022, the Ministry of Culture launched new licenses and services via the 'Abde’a' platform. This includes two licenses from the Heritage Commission: 'Crafts Practitioner' license, which allows citizens to work in and sell handmade craft fields, and the 'Handmade Heritage Crafts Products Sale' license, enabling holders to enter the market to sell their products.
The Culinary Arts Commission has introduced three new licenses and one new service. These include the 'Saudi Coffee Expert' license, the 'Water Sommelier' license for mineral and spring water experts, and the 'Traditional Foods' license, which allows culinary practitioners to legally and systematically sell traditional dishes. Additionally, the service for 'Registration and Classification of Heritage Restaurants' contributes to the organization and classification of these restaurants.