Rules and Procedures for Holding Conferences in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Rules for Holding Conferences

Article 4: Time and Place of the Conference

  • 1- The duration of the conference must not be less than four hours and must not exceed seven days.

  • 2- The conference must be held in independent conference halls or within universities, in hotel halls, and in social event venues licensed by the authority.

  • 3- Conference halls or event venues or hotel halls are not permitted to host conferences unless they are licensed by the authority, and a clause must be included in the contracts made between these venues and the conference organizers for renting the space, stipulating the requirement to obtain the official license from the authority.

  • 4- The conference may be held in temporary facilities that comply with civil defense requirements, in cities and governorates where conference halls are not available, after obtaining a license from the authority.

Article 5: Conference Program

  • 1- A supervisor responsible for the scientific program must be appointed, who has expertise in the subject of the conference.

  • 2- The conference program must be prepared on scientific bases that ensure the achievement of the intended objective.

  • 3- Speakers at the conference must be carefully selected, and their information must be registered with the authority, ensuring the following when selecting speakers:

    • * They must not have any security precedents or declared reservations.

    • * They must have a good reputation and conduct.

    • * They must be specialized or have experience in the field they will be speaking about.

  • 4- During the conference, it is prohibited to insult any of the state symbols or its policies, or to engage in any political, security, tribal, or sectarian matters that provoke tensions and discord in society, or that lead to a breach of public order.

  • 5- All laws regarding rights and intellectual property established in the Kingdom must be adhered to when organizing the conference.

Article 6: Accompanying Activities of the Conference

  • 1- Social, cultural, or entertainment events may be held alongside the conference, taking into account the approved regulations for licensing such events according to their type.

  • 2- The conference may be accompanied by an exhibition dedicated solely to sponsors, supporters, and collaborators. If the conference is accompanied by a commercial exhibition or a consumer goods exhibition, the organizer must obtain a separate license to hold the exhibition, which in this case is referred to as a (Forum), in accordance with the rules and procedures for holding commercial exhibitions or consumer goods exhibitions.

  • 3- An opening ceremony and a closing ceremony for the conference may be held.

  • 4- The accompanying events must not exceed the conference intended to be implemented.

  • 5- Tourist programs for visitors may be organized in the area where the conference is held and within the cities of the Kingdom in cooperation with institutions organizing tourist trips and licensed tourist guides from the Ministry of Tourism.

Article 7: Conference Management

  • 1- Consider applying the regulations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the requirements for the localization of jobs announced by the Ministry or those announced by official entities when organizing the conference.

  • 2- Create a registration platform or electronic system for registering participants in the conference, including the registration of name, organization, position, and contact information, and participation in the conference is prohibited without registration.

  • 3- All sessions and lectures held at the conference must be notarized via video, and a copy of this notarization must be provided to the authority upon request, within a period not exceeding two years from the date of the conference.

  • 4- All employees, speakers, and visitors participating in the conference must wear identification badges indicating their name, position, and the organization they work for.

  • 5- Provide an executive management office for the conference equipped with telephone, fax, and internet services, and appoint a responsible person to be present in this office during the conference working hours.

  • 6- Allocate a first aid room and a first aid officer available throughout the conference working hours if the number of attendees exceeds 200 people.

  • 7- Designate a place for information and answering inquiries from conference visitors.

  • 8- Provide a box for receiving complaints and suggestions from conference visitors.

  • 9- Smoking is strictly prohibited in all conference facilities, and clear signs stating "No Smoking" must be placed, with a designated smoking area in the outdoor courtyard of the conference.

  • 10- Allocate a prayer area for men and women, and suspend conference activities during prayer times.

  • 11- Provide a dedicated website for the conference.

  • 12- The gifts distributed at the conference should, as much as possible, be from Saudi handicraft products.

  • 13- The license number of the authority must be placed on all advertising and marketing materials for the conference.

Article 8: Closing and Evaluation of the Conference

  • The organizer is obligated to conclude the conference at the specified time according to the License, and to submit a Report within (15) days from the date of the conference's conclusion to the authority, attaching the detailed program of the conference. The report shall include the following:

  • 1- The actual start and end dates of the conference.

  • 2- The number of speakers at the conference and their names.

  • 3- The number of individuals who worked in organizing the conference.

  • 4- The number of exhibitors participating in the accompanying exhibition of the conference, along with a list of the sponsoring entities of the conference.

  • 5- The total attendance at the conference from within the Kingdom and abroad.

  • 6- Photos of the conference and a media summary about the conference and what was covered by the media.

  • 7- The results and recommendations of the conference.

  • 8- The financial results of the conference in terms of costs and revenues.

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