The terms and phrases mentioned below - wherever they appear in this Law - shall have the meanings specified next to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Kingdom: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• The Law: The Railway Transport Law.

• The Organization: The Organization of the Railway Authority.

• The Regulation: The Implementing Regulation of this Law.

• The Ministry: The Ministry of Transport.

• The Authority: The Railway Authority.

• The Council: The Board of Directors of the Authority.

• The Governor: The Governor of the Authority.

• The Person: Any natural or legal person.

• The Railway: Part of a transport network that uses parallel iron rails on which trains, cars, and moving equipment run.

• The Concession Contract: A contract concluded by the government with the concessionaire; to establish railways and provide railway services.

• The Concessionaire: The person granted a concession by the government; to establish railways and provide railway services under the concession contract.

• The License: An official document issued by the Authority to a person, allowing them to provide railway services under the Law and the Regulation.

• The Licensee: The person who holds the license.

• The Network: A collection of railways, including: any railway line, including any related extension of one of the railways.

• The Station: The designated place for passengers to board and alight from trains, or for handling containers and goods.

• The Facilities: Railway facilities or the network, including: any station, or maintenance workshop for moving or non-moving equipment, or railway maintenance workshop, or fuel supply station for trains, or train maneuvering yard, or train and car parking, or any asset related to the operation of railways or the network or trains.

• Railway Services: Operation of the railway or the network or the facility, and providing passenger and freight transport services by rail, and maintenance services for railways and maintenance of trains, cars, and equipment, and services related to the operation of the network or its facilities.

• The Incident or Event: Any incident on the railways or in the facilities associated with them, or any event that could cause an incident.

• The Dominant Position: The ability to influence the fairness of decision-making, or legitimate competition.

The Ministry is responsible for the following tasks:

• 1) Developing strategies, policies, and plans for the development of the railway transport sector, and monitoring their implementation after approval in accordance with the legal procedures.

• 2) Representing the Kingdom in local, regional, and international bodies in the field of railway transport, and it may grant the Authority or other entities the powers of representation.

• 3) Coordinating and consulting with the Authority to develop the railway transport sector.

• 4) Encouraging research and development activities in the railway transport sector.

The Authority shall, in addition to the tasks stipulated in the regulation, undertake the following:

• 1) Preparing and offering concessions and competitions related to the implementation and maintenance of railways, their facilities, and services, and completing all necessary procedures for that.

• 2) Supervising the implementation of railways and their facilities, and working on their development.

• 3) Defining the types of railway services and classifying them, along with the licensing conditions for each, and issuing them.

• 4) Ensuring the provision of railway services to beneficiaries at reasonable prices, taking into account what is stated in the concession contracts.

• 5) Monitoring the compliance of licensees and concessionaires with the provisions of the law and its regulations, and the tasks assigned to them, including security and safety requirements. 

• 6) Requiring concessionaires to adhere to the requirements and conditions of the concession contracts related to railways.

The Authority - in exercising the powers and tasks entrusted to it - seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• 1) Encourage the use of railways for the transport of goods and passengers.

• 2) Develop the network within the framework of the national transport strategy.

• 3) Enhance the efficiency of those licensed to provide railway services.

• 4) Promote competition in the provision of railway services for the benefit of its users.

• 5) Minimize restrictions on licensees to the lowest possible level.

• 6) Remove any difficulties faced by the railway transport sector.

1) The area on which the railway line is established and the area located on either side of it shall be public property of the state, and shall be referred to as the railway corridor. The Council, after coordinating with the relevant authorities, shall define the railway corridor to not exceed two hundred meters from the center of the railway line on both sides, in accordance with the operational needs, security and safety, and the technical requirements of the railway line.

2) Any entity responsible for supervising public utility lines or networks, and wishing to establish those lines or networks and extend them through the railway corridor or intersect with it; must obtain the approval of the Authority before proceeding with the establishment of those lines or networks or their extension.

3) Entities wishing to establish public utility lines or networks and extend them through the railway line or its corridor; must adhere to the rules and technical requirements set by the Authority.

No person may provide railway services except after obtaining the necessary license from the Authority.