The purpose of these regulations is to organize community research and social studies centers, activate their role in society, and enable them to exercise their functions according to modern scientific methods.

The aim of these centers is to monitor issues, phenomena, and social problems in the Kingdom, conduct research, studies, and social surveys related to them, propose appropriate recommendations and solutions, hold training and rehabilitation courses, workshops, scientific meetings, and forums related to social affairs, and refrain from conducting any research, studies, or consultations outside this scope.

• 1. Except for centers owned by private entities with legal personality, it is required that the owner of the center supervises it generally.

• 2. The center is obligated, in its field of work, to adhere to Sharia controls, applicable regulations, prevailing customs and values, and to consider modern scientific methods in the research, studies, or social surveys it conducts, as well as in the training courses, qualification programs, scientific seminars, discussion panels, or workshops it holds.

• 3. The center shall be responsible for any incorrect information recorded in the research, study, or consultation it conducts, or that is contrary to the regulations or instructions issued in this regard and the official procedures issued by the competent authority.

• 4. The center must obtain official approval from the agency when it intends to organize a scientific seminar, discussion panel, or workshop.

• 5. The center is obligated to obtain statistical data about the Kingdom from the officially authorized entity, which is the Ministry of Economy and Planning (General Authority for Statistics).

• 6. The center is obligated not to conduct any studies, research, social surveys, or consultations about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the Saudi community for foreign entities, either directly or indirectly.

• 7. The fees charged by the center for the services it provides should be related to the type of those services, their volume, and their working hours.

• 8. The license must be displayed in a prominent place, and it should not be used for purposes other than the licensed location, as specified in the license.

1. The center may not be opened or commence its activities until all the conditions and requirements of these regulations are fulfilled; and a License is obtained from the agency. The License issued by the agency does not exempt the applicant from obtaining the necessary licenses from other governmental entities as required by the applicable laws and regulations, including municipal licenses and civil defense approvals regarding buildings and their structural safety.
2. Anyone wishing to permanently cease their activities must return the License to the relevant administration and obtain a letter from them to present to the concerned authorities.

• If the owner of the center wishes to delegate its management to another party, the following conditions must be met:

  • 1. The individual must be Saudi.

  • 2. The individual must hold a university degree, or a higher academic qualification obtained from one of the Saudi universities, or from one of the universities recognized by the Ministry of Education, and it must be relevant to the nature of the center's work.

  • 3. The individual must have experience or qualifications in the field related to the center's work.

  • 4. The individual must be fully dedicated to this role.

  • 5. The individual must have full authority to exercise their responsibilities.

• The license holder and the manager shall be responsible for the licensed activity and for any violation of the provisions of these regulations, as well as any instructions or circulars issued in this regard.

The agency is responsible for the technical supervision of those centers and monitoring their performance, to ensure their compliance with the provisions of these regulations and the decisions issued under them, and to address any violations that may exist, and subsequently take the necessary procedure regarding them.

• The center owner is obligated to the following:-

  • 1. To maintain a record that includes the names of the employees at the center, the nature of each one's work, and their related documents.

  • 2. To establish an internal regulatory list for the center's operations that defines the tasks, responsibilities, rights, and duties of its employees, clients, and collaborators, and then submit it to the relevant administration for approval.

  • 3. Not to engage with external centers or enter into scientific partnerships or experiments with them except after obtaining prior written approval from the agency.

  • 4. To fully adhere to the licensed field, and not to exceed it to practice any other activities except to the extent required by the research or study in accordance with its scientific and research principles and requirements.

  • 5. To include the center's name along with its license number and to record that on its sign and official publications, and not to record the name of the Ministry or its logo on the center's sign or official publications.