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RIYADH: ����ֱ�� is tightening laws, enforcing penalties and uniting agencies to combat the illicit trade of historical artifacts.

Mohammed Mahnashi, legal team director at the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission, spoke to Arab News at the International Conference on Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property in Riyadh on Thursday about the new measures.

Mahnashi said that the Kingdom kept a national registry for movable antiquities, with explicit criteria for listing artifacts and rules for auction licensing.

“Penalties have real teeth,” he said. Mahnashi explained that violators could face up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to SR500,000 ($133,300) — or both — for the illegal seizure of state-owned antiquities, alongside sanctions for forgery and replica production, all codified in a dedicated violations chapter.

“The executive regulations translate law into daily practice,” he said. Rules govern what may be traded and where, restrict trade to within the Kingdom, and grant the Heritage Commission the right of preemption when licensed sales occur.

“Registration is not a free pass to sell,” Mahnashi said. Only eligible items with verified ownership documents can be entered into the Antiquities Registry; documentation proving legitimacy is mandatory before any transaction is contemplated.

“We’ve built the first line of defense at the borders,” he said, describing joint training with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority at land, air and seaports, enabling officers to recognize cultural properties, identify artifacts correctly and apply the rules to prevent smuggling.

“Our legal pipeline is coordinated end-to-end,” he said. A memorandum of understanding with the Public Prosecution clarifies referrals, initial investigation files and courtroom representation to ensure consistent, effective prosecution under the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage system.

Mahnashi added that the General Directorate of Public Security was an essential force multiplier.

Their role in field inspections, summoning violators and completing initial investigations — especially when offenders were hard to locate — helped to maintain credible deterrence and comprehensive oversight.

Mahnashi added: “Our approach is straightforward — enforceable laws, operational clarity and institutional coordination.”

He added that by coupling clear statutes and executive regulations with targeted training and interagency MOUs, ����ֱ�� was closing loopholes that traffickers exploit.

“Trafficking evolves, and so must our tools,” he said. From registries and licensing protocols to data-driven risk profiling at borders, Mahnashi underscored that prevention, detection and prosecution were being upgraded in tandem.

Mahnashi said that preserving cultural memory was ultimately a shared responsibility.

Citizens, market participants and international partners must document provenance, report suspicious activity and follow lawful processes — steps that he said were essential to keep heritage protected for future generations.

RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s events and media industries are key to building bridges with China.

This is according to speakers at ewpartners’ recent “China Night” in Riyadh, which had Arab News as a media partner.

The country’s booming events sector offers valuable collaboration opportunities across technology and finance, according to Jessica Wong, founder and managing partner of ewpartners.

“Exhibitions in the Middle East are vital platforms connecting policy, industry and capital,” said Wong.

“They showcase the Kingdom’s openness and innovation under Vision 2030,” she said.

Wong said the true power of an ecosystem is felt with physical presence. This allows one to feel firsthand ����ֱ��’s incredible transformation and building momentum.

She said global investors and innovators gather at these forums, which allows them to shape the region’s future through partnerships.

Wong stressed the deep mutual trust in China-Saudi relations, with high-level exchanges highlighting the strategic importance of their continued cooperation.

Esra Assery, general supervisor of the media development agency at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Media, highlighted several key milestones in the ����ֱ��-China collaboration.

Assery pointed to the launch in Mandarin of Saudipedia — the Kingdom’s official encyclopedia — as a landmark achievement.

“These accomplishments culminated in the inauguration of the People’s Daily headquarters in Riyadh, which has become a cornerstone in building a robust and dynamic information economy,” she added.

“The media economy has now evolved into one of the central pillars of the Kingdom’s national transformation and a key driver of sustainable growth,” Assery emphasized.

“Building on these achievements, the Ministry of Media stands ready and eager to embrace every opportunity to forge a more connected and prosperous future with partners around the world,” she said.