Law of Documents and Archives in Saudi Arabia

The Law of Documents and Archives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a set of legal rules and procedures that are applied in the Kingdom, and it is focused on organizing documents and archives. These are containers of information related to the affairs and interests of the state, whether produced by the work of its institutions or by other sources, as long as they require preservation, either due to their necessity or their value.

The Law of Documents and Archives was issued by Royal Decree No. M/54 on May 28, 1989, and was approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers in Decision No. 170 on April 17, 1989. According to Article Ten of this law, it nullifies any other provisions that conflict with it regarding documents and archives.

According to Article Two, the Law of Documents and Archives aims to preserve and maintain documents and archives, as well as to catalog and classify them to ensure quick access to those needed. It also regulates their circulation while taking into account the designated retention periods.

According to the law, documents, and archives are divided into three categories: administrative documents and archives, which are related to administrative work; financial documents and archives, which pertain to financial matters; and specialized documents and archives, which are connected to the core activities of the governmental body.

According to Article Six of the law, documents and archives are classified into those that cannot be destroyed and those that may be destroyed.

According to Article Seven, documents and archives are also classified into categories for access purposes. The regulations define these categories, the rules for accessing each category, and the controls for transferring certain documents and archives or their copies within and outside the Kingdom.

Article Four of the law emphasizes that documents and archives must follow a unified classification plan, and each government entity must have its own unique code. According to Article Five, documents and archives are to be preserved within any ministry, independent authority, or government entity with independent legal personality, or at the National Center for Archives and Records, or in both. The regulations specify the retention period and the methods for transferring documents and archives to the center. Article Eight states that any ministry, independent authority, or government entity with independent legal personality, along with the National Center for Archives and Records, must use the most suitable materials, devices, and equipment as containers for documents and archives.

Article Nine stipulates the establishment of the "National Center for Archives and Records," which is responsible for implementing the Law of Documents and Archives, issuing its executive regulations, and defining its purposes, functions, and organizational affiliation through its law.