In this Regulation, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Law: The Handicrafts Law.

• Regulation: The Implementing Regulations of the Handicrafts Law.

• Ministry: The Ministry of Culture.

• Commission: The Heritage Commission.

• Board: The Board of Directors of the Commission.

• Craftsman: Any natural or legal person who practices or has practiced a craft or handicraft.

• Register: The National Register of Craftsmen, being the database in which the data of craftsmen, their classifications, their handicrafts, and their related activities are recorded.

• Craft Practitioner License: A license that authorizes its holder to engage in a specific handicraft for commercial purposes or to trade primarily in handicrafts.

• Handicraft Activities: The Handicraft activities specified in the Licensing Rules, including productive artistic or heritage handicraft activities, as well as service handicraft activities.

• Licensing Rules: A document setting out the list of Handicraft activities, the technical requirements applicable to each license or permit, the schedule of violations and penalties, and the prescribed rectification period, where applicable.

• Platform: The electronic platform designated by the Ministry.

These Regulations aim to promote Handicraft activities associated with the national cultural heritage, to preserve and safeguard them from extinction, and to enhance their competitiveness in a manner that contributes to the provision of competitive products and services and supports their marketing locally and internationally.

a. The Register shall be owned and managed by the Commission.

b. Any craftsman wishing to be entered in the Register shall submit an application to the Commission using the form prepared by the Commission for this purpose, provided that the applicant is engaged in the practice of one of the Handicrafts falling within the fields specified in Article (4) of these Regulations, or has previously practiced the same in accordance with the criteria approved by the Board.

c. The Board may, where deemed necessary in the public interest, impose any additional conditions it considers appropriate.

d. The Register shall include the following data relating to each craftsman:

• 1. Full name.

  2. Gender.

  3. Date of birth.

  4. Field(s) of handicraft.

  5. National identification number.

  6. Region, city, or governorate.

  7. Handicraft classification.

  8. Craftsman status.

  9. Name of the handicraft.

  10. Contact details (mobile number and email address).

  11. Academic qualifications, if any.

  12. Certificates or training courses in the relevant Handicraft field, if any.

  13. Number of years of experience in the Handicraft sector.

  14. Professional memberships, if any.

  15. Any other information as determined by the Board.

e. A craftsman entered in the Register may apply to the Commission to remove their registration or to amend the data recorded therein.

f. In addition to the cases stipulated in the Law, where any of the registration requirements ceases to be satisfied, the craftsman shall be notified accordingly. If the deficiency is not remedied within thirty (30) days from the date of notification, the registration shall be cancelled. The craftsman may reapply for registration upon fulfilling the relevant requirements.

g. Where a registration is cancelled due to a violation of the provisions of the Law, the craftsman may apply for re-registration subject to the following:

• 1. The expiry of the penalty period imposed.

• 2. Submission of an undertaking, in accordance with the procedure approved by the Commission, not to repeat the violation.

• 3. Submission of the re-registration application in accordance with the procedure prescribed for initial registration, provided that all applicable requirements are satisfied.

a. The handicraft fields shall be as follows:

• 1. Wood crafts.

  2. Palm-based crafts.

  3. Metal crafts.

  4. Leather crafts.

  5. Textile crafts.

  6. Jewelry and ornament crafts.

  7. Traditional construction crafts.

  8. Bookbinding and gilding crafts.

  9. Embroidery crafts.

  10. Pottery crafts.

  11. Perfume and incense crafts.

  12. Supporting crafts.

b. The Board shall determine the sub-fields of handicrafts falling within each of the fields listed in paragraph (a) of this Article.

c. The Board may, in coordination with the relevant authorities, add additional handicraft fields.

The Commission shall prepare the Licensing Rules and submit them to the Ministry for approval within ninety (90) days from the date of publication of this Regulation.

a. The Commission shall grant the following licenses in accordance with the provisions of the Law and these Regulations:

• 1. Craft Practitioner License: A license granted to a craftsman, authorizing them to engage in Handicraft Activities for commercial purposes or to primarily trade in handicraft products.

• 2. Traditional Handicraft Products Shop License: A license granted to shop owners primarily engaged in trading traditional heritage handicraft products.

b. An applicant for a license shall meet the following conditions:

• 1. Fulfil the requirements and conditions set out in the Licensing Rules approved by the Ministry.

• 2. Submit the application for the License mentioned in this Article to the Commission using the forms designated for this purpose.

c. The validity of the license shall be two (2) years, renewable.

d. In addition to the cases stipulated in the Law, the license shall be cancelled where any of its requirements ceases to be satisfied. A new application may be submitted upon fulfilment of the relevant requirements.

e. Where a license is revoked due to a violation of the provisions of the Law, these Regulations, or the Licensing Rules, the craftsman may apply for a new license subject to the following:

• 1. The expiry of the penalty period imposed.

• 2. Submission of an undertaking, in accordance with the procedure approved by the Commission, not to repeat the violation.

• 3. Submission of the application in accordance with the procedure prescribed for obtaining the license for the first time, provided that all applicable regulatory requirements are satisfied.

The Commission shall encourage the establishment of associations specializing in the Handicraft sector, subject to compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements for their establishment.

a. Without prejudice to the applicable laws and resolutions, the Commission shall coordinate with the relevant authorities regarding the participation of craftsmen in exhibitions, conferences, events, and similar activities.

b. A craftsman wishing to participate in local exhibitions, conferences, events, or similar activities shall obtain the required permit in accordance with Article (5) of these Regulations.

c. A craftsman wishing to represent the Kingdom in international exhibitions, conferences, events, or similar activities shall obtain the required permit pursuant to Article (5) of these Regulations and secure approval from the Commission.

d. The Board may, where deemed necessary in the public interest, prescribe additional requirements beyond those set out in paragraphs (b) and (c).

e. Without prejudice to the applicable laws, regulations, and instructions, Handicraft Associations wishing to organize exhibitions shall comply with the relevant regulatory requirements and apply for approval from the Commission.

An activity shall be classified as a Handicraft Activity where manual production constitutes not less than fifty percent (50%) of the production process. The Commission may add additional classification criteria and publish them on the Platform.

The Commission may, in coordination with the relevant authorities, adopt quality standards for Handicraft products and publish them on the Platform.