The Council of Ministers,
after perusal of Royal Court File 48266 dated 13 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [4 December 2025], which includes Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Telegram 29166 dated 8 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1441 [29 June 2020], regarding the draft Copyright Law,
after perusal of the mentioned draft law,
after perusal of the Copyright Protection Law issued by Royal Decree D/41 dated 2 Rajab 1424 [30 August 2003],
after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 852 dated 10 Rabi Al-Awwal 1444 [6 October 2022], Memo 3688 dated 26 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1444 [15 June 2023], Memo 4142 dated 29 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1445 [6 June 2024], Memo 1754 dated 19 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446 [21 November 2024], Memo 2191 dated 18 Jumada Al-Thani 1446 [19 December 2024], Memo 469 dated 2 Safar 1447 [27 July 2025], and Memo 642 dated 13 Safar 1447 [7 August 2025],
after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Minutes 339/47/M dated 27 Safar 1447 [21 August 2025],
after considering Shura Council Decision 305/30 dated 21 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1446 [19 May 2025] and Decision 121/11 dated 10 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [1 December 2025],
and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 7834 dated 19 Rajab 1447 [8 January 2026],
hereby decides
First
The Copyright Law is hereby approved in the form attached.
Second
The competent entity stipulated in article 6 of the draft law, referred to in clause First of this decision, is the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture may delegate any cultural commissions he deems fit to act on behalf of the Ministry of Culture.
Third
The competent entity stipulated in article 20 of the draft law, referred to in clause First of this decision, is the General Commission for the Guardianship of Trust Funds for Minors and Their Counterparts.
Fourth
The competent entity stipulated in article 52(2) of the draft law, referred to in clause First of this decision, is the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority. The controls and procedures stipulated in that paragraph must be agreed upon with it.
Fifth
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, after agreement with the Ministry of Culture, shall submit the draft regulation for collective management, after completing its preparation in accordance with the relevant legal procedures, to complete the necessary legal procedures in this regard.
Sixth
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Non-Oil Revenue Development Center, shall determine the fee stipulated in article 40 of the draft law referred to in clause First of this decision, until the issuance of the Governance of the Practice of Imposing the Fee for Services and Works Provided by Entities That Have the Legal Authority to Impose a Fee, and its entry into force.
Seventh
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property shall agree with the Ministry of Finance on the establishment of controls and procedures for granting the remuneration mentioned in articles 54 and 55 of the draft law referred to in clause First of this decision.
Eighth
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property shall deposit any amount of money collected as a result of the application of the provisions of the draft law, referred to in clause First of this decision, in the Treasury Single Account—formerly the current account of the Ministry of Finance—in the Saudi Central Bank.
Ninth
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property shall coordinate with the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission when setting the provisions of article 49 of the draft law, referred to in clause First of this decision, in the executive regulation of the draft law.
Tenth
The protection provided for in the draft law referred to in clause First of this decree is restricted if a foreign state does not protect the citizens of the Kingdom under international agreements and treaties.
A draft royal decree has been prepared for the provisions of clauses First and Tenth, in the form attached to this.
The Prime Minister
Issued on: 8 Sha’ban 1447
Corresponding to: 27 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5144 issued on 13 February 2026.
Issued on: 3 Sha’ban 1447
Corresponding to: 22 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5143 issued on 6 February 2026.
The Council of Ministers,
after perusal in its session held under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, of Royal Court File 625 dated 3 Muharram 1447 [28 June 2025], which includes Saudi Authority for Gaming and Esports Letter 267 dated 26 Dhu Al-Hijja 1446 [22 June 2025], regarding the request of the authority to be exempted from submitting the annual report for the first fiscal year ending on 31 December 2024,
after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 436 dated 6 Jumada Al-Thani 1445 [19 December 2023],
after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 555 dated 6 Safar 1447 [31 July 2025], Memo 1311 dated 8 Rabi Al-Thani 1447 [30 September 2025], and Memo 1709 dated 7 Jumada Al-Awwal 1447 [29 October 2025],
after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Minutes 359/47/M dated 27 Safar 1447 [21 August 2025],
and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 5831 dated 27 Jumada Al-Awwal 1447 [18 November 2025],
hereby decides
The amendment of the ending of clause Fourth of Council of Ministers Decision 436 dated 6 Jumada Al-Thani 1445 [19 December 2023] is hereby approved so that the clause reads as follows:
Fourth
As an exception to the provisions of clause 12(2) of the Organizational Arrangements of the Saudi Authority for Gaming and Esports, the first fiscal year of the Saudi Authority for Gaming and Esports begins from the date of entry into force of its organizational arrangements, and ends at the end of the fiscal year 1448/1449 [2027].
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 1 Sha’ban 1447
Corresponding to: 20 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5142 issued on 30 January 2026.
The Minister of Justice,
based on the powers entrusted to him by law,
based on Royal Order 59641 dated 17 Sha’ban 1446 [16 February 2025] Approving the Regulation of the Personal Status Law, and the Minister of Justice setting the Arrangements for Hearing the Lawsuit to Prove a Marriage Contract Signed Without the Permission of the Competent Entity Where Permission Is Required, in coordination with the relevant entities,
after reviewing the studies and reports prepared in this regard,
after coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the relevant entities,
and in pursuance of the interest of work,
hereby decides
First
The Arrangements for Hearing the Lawsuit to Prove a Marriage Contract Signed Without the Permission of the Competent Entity Where Permission Is Required, is hereby approved in the form attached.
Second
This decision must be communicated to those who are required to adopt and implement it.
May Allah provide success.
Minister of Justice
Waleed bin Mohammed Al-Samaani
Issued on: 30 Rajab 1447
Corresponding to: 19 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5133 issued on 29 December 2025.
Issued on: 26 Rajab 1447
Corresponding to: 15 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5144 issued on 13 February 2026.
The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Non-Profit Sector,
based on the powers entrusted to him by law,
based on the Law of Civil Associations and Organizations issued by Royal Decree D/8 dated 19 Safar 1437 [2 December 2015],
based on the statute of the center issued by Council of Ministers Decision 816 dated 20 Shawwal 1442 [1 June 2021],
and based on the Executive Regulation of the Law of Civil Associations and Organizations issued by the Board of Directors of the Center Decision D/2/1/2022 dated 22 Rabi Al-Awwal 1444 [18 October 2022] and its amendments,
and in pursuance of public interest,
hereby decides
First
The amendment to the Executive Regulation of the Law of Civil Associations and Organizations is hereby approved in the form attached.
Second
This regulation must be published in the official gazette and comes into force 90 days after the date of its publication.
May Allah provide success.
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for the Non-Profit Sector, Engineer
Ahmad bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi
Issued on: 26 Rajab 1447
Corresponding to: 15 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5143 issued on 6 February 2026.
The Council of Ministers,
after perusal in its session held under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, of Royal Court File 45264 dated 22 Jumada Al-Thani 1446 [23 December 2024], which includes the Minister of Commerce Telegram 20257 dated 18 Jumada Al-Thani 1446 [19 December 2024], regarding the review of the provisions of article 5 of the Franchise Law issued by Royal Decree D/22 dated 9 Safar 1441 [8 October 2019],
after perusal of the Franchise Law issued by Royal Decree D/22 dated 9 Safar 1441 [8 October 2019],
after perusal of clause Third of Royal Decree D/22 dated 9 Safar 1441 [8 October 2019],
after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 1174 dated 6 Rabi Al-Thani 1446 [9 October 2024], Memo 3014 dated 4 Ramadan 1446 [4 March 2025], Memo 4098 dated 21 Dhu Al-Hijja 1446 [17 June 2025], Memo 850 dated 26 Safar 1447 [20 September 2025], and Memo 1854 dated 20 Jumada Al-Awwal 1447 [11 November 2025],
after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Recommendation 9-4/47/R dated 3 Rabi Al-Thani 1447 [25 September 2025],
and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 6296 dated 9 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [30 November 2025],
hereby decides
First
The non-application of the requirement provided in article 5(1) of the Franchise Law—issued by Royal Decree D/22 dated 9 Safar 1441 [8 October 2019]—is hereby approved in regard to certain categories of franchisors and franchisees, in accordance with the following:
| Criteria | Criteria Details |
| 1․ The franchise business must be in a promising sector in the Kingdom and the goal is to increase the number of practitioners in it. | If the franchise is within a targeted sector in Vision 2030 or its programs, and the goal is to expand the number of practitioners in it. |
| 2․ The franchisor must provide a clear and detailed franchise business model. | It contains detailed instructions and market analysis, and is a practical guide with a feasibility study that guarantees success. |
| 3․ That the franchise business activity is innovative, or a product or a service that contributes to the development of the national economy or meets the needs of the local market. | Innovation, economic impact, or response to market need is considered when evaluating demand. |
| 4․ That the franchisor does not require the franchisee to pay for the franchise before practicing the franchise business, and the fee must be after the franchisee achieves revenues from practicing the franchise business as determined by the franchise agreement. | To reduce operational risk to the franchisee and link the consideration to the realisation of actual revenue. |
Second
The application of the criteria—referred to in clause First of this decision—must be through a committee formed under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Commerce, and the membership of the Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Issued on: 24 Rajab 1447
Corresponding to: 13 January 2026
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5142 issued on 30 January 2026.