The Shoura Council has approved the draft law of monuments, museums and architectural heritage. It was approved during an ordinary meeting, chaired by Abdullah Al-Asheikh, its president, here recently.

“Before approving the draft law the Shoura heard the views of the Economic and Energy Committee,” said Assistant President Fahd Al-Hamad, adding that the law has 94 articles in 10 chapters.

According to Article 50, buildings classified as public antique buildings should be protected and developed by the government. “The government should also participate in developing such private buildings.”

The law bans causing harm to antiquities or heritage buildings or removing them from their places or disfiguring or destroying them. It urges the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to register all antiquities and historical sites in the country.

The Shoura also approved the small-payload ships safety regulation that is not included in international marine agreements.

Al-Hamad said the meeting also approved the Kingdom's accession to the convention on the establishment of the International Academy of Anti-Corruption in Austria under the umbrella of the United Nations.