The following words and phrases - wherever mentioned in this regulation - shall have the meanings specified next to each, unless the context requires otherwise:
Regulation: Regulation of the National Center for Wildlife.
Center:  National Center for Wildlife.
Ministry:  Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
Minister: Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
Council:  Board of Directors of the Center.
President:  President of the Council.
Fund:  Environmental Fund.
Protected Area: Designated and announced terrestrial, marine, or coastal areas allocated for the protection and development of wildlife, excluding royal reserves.
National Centers for the Environment and Meteorology Sectors: National Center for Environmental Compliance, National Center for Meteorology, National Center for Wildlife, National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, or any other center established in the future.
Permit: A document issued by the Center concerning preparatory works, including the preparation of plans and studies, prior to commencing the Center's activities, in accordance with the relevant regulations and laws.
License: A written permission issued by the Center to carry out any work or activity related to wildlife development, in accordance with the relevant regulations and laws.

1- A center named "National Center for Wildlife" is established under this regulation, enjoying public legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Minister.
2- The main headquarters of the center shall be in the city of Riyadh, and it may, by a decision of the Council, establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.

The center aims to supervise and manage protected areas, protect wildlife, both terrestrial and marine (including plants and animals), promote and preserve them, and work on the reintroduction of endangered species to their natural habitats, in accordance with the relevant regulations and laws.

Without prejudice to the competencies established by law for other entities, including the national centers for the environment and meteorology sectors, the center shall undertake all necessary actions to achieve its objectives, and it shall specifically have the following responsibilities:
1- Develop initiatives, programs, and projects for the development of wildlife within its competencies, and monitor their implementation.
2- Develop executive plans for work and monitor their implementation concerning its competencies in the approved environmental strategies, plans, programs, projects, and national initiatives.
3- Propose environmental standards, criteria, controls, and requirements related to its competencies, and submit them to the Ministry for approval.
4- Protect the wildlife under its jurisdiction, along with their habitats, and promote their reproduction and development.
5- Work on the reintroduction of locally extinct or endangered species to their natural habitats and levels within its competencies.
6- Propose protected areas.
7- Plan, establish, and manage the approved protected areas.
8- Issue environmental licenses and permits related to its competencies as stipulated in the relevant laws and regulations, according to a regulation issued by the Council.
9- Approve the rules, conditions, and controls related to the licenses and permits it issues, and determine the financial fees for them and collect them.
10- Issue decisions, conditions, and lists specific to the types of wildlife under its jurisdiction and their products, to regulate trade in them.
11- Prepare emergency response plans and lead the response to emergencies under its jurisdiction, and implement them in coordination with relevant entities.
12- Obtain information and data related to its competencies and needs from individuals and governmental and non-governmental entities, in order to perform its duties.
13- Encourage investment and financing in areas related to its competencies.
14- Establish training programs in areas related to its competencies and promote them to enhance the performance of administrative and technical staff.
15- Approve professional training programs and certifying bodies specialized in training in areas related to its competencies.
16- Organize environmental guidance activities, including holding courses, seminars, and specialized workshops related to its competencies.
17- Prepare studies and reports related to its competencies and review them.
18- Cooperate with universities, research centers, and institutions concerning its competencies.
19- Any other task related to its competencies, as approved by the Council.

• 1- The center shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister and composed of the following members:

  • A- A representative from the Environmental Sector in the Ministry, who shall be a member and the Vice President.

  • B- A representative from the Ministry of Interior, who shall be a member.

  • C- A representative from the General Panel for Tourism and National Heritage, who shall be a member.

  • D- A representative from the accredited civil associations related to its competencies, appointed by the Minister, with a membership term of three years, renewable once.

  • E- Three specialists with experience in the field of the center's work, nominated by the Minister, and their appointment shall be issued by a decision from the Council of Ministers, with a membership term of three years, renewable once.

• 2- The rank of representatives of government entities in the council must not be less than the (fourteenth) rank or its equivalent.

The Council is responsible for managing the affairs of the center and conducting its matters, and it makes all necessary decisions to achieve its objectives and missions within the framework of the regulations. It has, in particular, the following powers:
1- Supervising the implementation of the tasks assigned to the center and following up on them.
2- Approving the policies related to the center's activities, as well as the plans and programs necessary for their implementation.
3- Approving the organizational structure of the center.
4- Proposing draft laws related to the center's competencies and suggesting amendments to the existing ones, in preparation for submitting them according to the legal procedures.
5- Approving the internal and technical regulations and procedures necessary for managing its affairs and operations.
6- Determining the financial fees for the licenses, services, and works issued or provided by the center within its jurisdiction.
7- Approving the draft budget of the center, its final account, the auditor's report, and the annual report, in preparation for submitting them according to the legal procedures.
8- Approving periodic reports on the progress of work in the center and making necessary decisions regarding them.
9- Accepting gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments, according to the applicable regulations.
10- Approving the mechanisms necessary to ensure quality and sustainability in services and works, and allocating funds for them.
11- Appointing an external certified auditor and an internal financial controller, and determining their fees.
12- Approving the conclusion of agreements and contracts, according to the applicable legal procedures.
13- Forming permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others to carry out the tasks assigned to them.
The Council may delegate some of these tasks to whomever it deems appropriate from among the officials in the center, as required by the workflow therein.

1- The Council meets periodically at the invitation of its President, or his Deputy, or at the request of at least a majority of the members, provided that its meetings are not less than two meetings per year. The invitation must be sent in writing at least seven days prior to the meeting, and it must include the agenda.
2- The meetings of the Council are held in the presence of at least a majority of the members, including the President or his Deputy.
3- The decisions of the Council are issued by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting votes for shall prevail.
4- No member may abstain from voting or delegate another to vote on his behalf in his absence.
5- The deliberations and decisions of the Council are recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the attending members. A member who objects to any decision may record his objection in advance in the minutes.
6- The President may invite any representatives from governmental entities not represented in the Council, or experts, or specialists, to attend the meetings of the Council, without having the right to vote.

The center shall have an Executive Director, who is appointed and relieved from his position by a Decision from the Council. The Decision specifies his salary and other financial benefits, and he is responsible for managing the affairs of the center. His responsibilities are concentrated within the limits set by the regulations and as decided by the Council, and he shall specifically undertake the following competencies:
1- Preparing for Council meetings.
2- Proposing policies related to the center's activities, and developing the necessary plans and programs to enhance the center's services and achieve financial sustainability, and submitting them to the Council.
3- Implementing the policies approved by the Council - related to the center's activities - and the necessary plans and programs.
4- Supervising the workflow in the center through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.
5- Proposing the necessary internal and technical regulations and procedures to manage the center's affairs, in preparation for submitting them to the Council.
6- Proposing the necessary mechanisms to ensure quality and sustainability in services and operations, and submitting them to the Council.
7- Proposing the organizational structure of the center and submitting it to the Council.
8- Supervising the preparation of the center's annual report, its budget draft, and its final accounts, in preparation for submitting them to the Council.
9- Supervising the reports related to the implementation of the center's plans and programs and submitting them to the Council.
10- Representing the center before the judiciary, government entities, and other relevant institutions, as well as other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he has the authority to delegate others in this regard.
11- Seeking the assistance of qualified and required experts, specialists, and consultants in areas related to the center's competencies.
12- Spending from the center's budget and taking all financial actions, in accordance with the approved regulations and within the limits of the powers delegated to him by the Council.
13- Contracting for the execution of works and providing services, etc., in accordance with the powers delegated to him by the Council.
14- Issuing the necessary decisions to implement the provisions contained in the regulations and the issued regulations based on them, according to the powers granted to him.
15- Appointing the center's staff and supervising them, in accordance with the regulations governing that.
16- Any other competencies assigned to him by the Council.
The Executive Director may delegate some of his competencies to whomever he sees fit among the center's staff.

The resources of the center consist of the following sources:
1- The appropriations allocated to it in the state budget.
2- The appropriations allocated to it by the fund.
3- Any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments accepted by the council.
4- Any other resource approved by the council.

The center opens an account for itself at the Saudi Central Bank, and it may open other accounts at any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Withdrawals from these accounts are made in accordance with the center's budget.