The following words and phrases - wherever they appear in this regulation - shall have the meanings specified next to each of them:

Minister: Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

Agency: Saudi Space Agency.

Authority: Communications, Space and Technology Authority.

Regulation: Regulation of the Agency.

Council: Board of Directors of the Agency.

President: Chairman of the Council.

CEO: Chief Executive Officer of the Agency.

The agency enjoys public legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Minister. Its main headquarters is located in the city of Riyadh, and it has the authority to establish branches or offices within the Kingdom or abroad as needed.

• The agency aims to lead the development of the civil space sector, enhance the peaceful use of space, and strengthen the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and international center in the field of space sciences and technologies, contributing to the service of developmental and vital sectors in the Kingdom, and possessing knowledge specific to the civil space sector. It has - without prejudice to the competencies of other government entities - the authority to do everything necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:

• 1- Manufacturing and developing activities related to the civil space sector and supporting and enhancing it, including: satellite technologies and systems, space data, launching vehicles and space objects, launch platforms, their locations, and launching payloads.

• 2- Monitoring space, tracking space debris and mitigating its effects, tracking objects and celestial bodies, managing space traffic, managing early warning systems, and collecting information about the Earth's surface and space.

• 3- Implementing space programs and operations, in accordance with the policies approved by the Supreme Council for Space.

• 4- Selecting and training astronauts, and working to build the capabilities of national personnel and develop their skills and experiences in the field of the civil space sector in cooperation with the authority and relevant entities.

• 5- Participating in rescue operations and investigating incidents and events related to the civil space sector.

• 6- Preparing and supporting studies and research related to the civil space sector, including: astronomy and outer space exploration, space resource activities, remote sensing, space surveying, and studying natural and environmental phenomena; in accordance with the applicable laws and procedures.

• 7- Cooperating with regional and international organizations, similar entities in other countries, and local, regional, and international research and consulting entities, within the agency's competencies and according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 8- Representing the Kingdom in international bodies and organizations and regional and international events related to the agency's competencies, after coordination with the authority; in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

• 9- Organizing exhibitions, conferences, and workshops related to the agency's competencies, in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

• 10- Concluding agreements and memoranda of understanding related to the agency's activities and within its competencies with similar entities in other countries and with international and regional organizations, in coordination with the authority and according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 11- Building human and technical capabilities to develop the civil space sector in the Kingdom, and developing, transferring, and localizing space sciences and technologies, including implementing or supporting the infrastructure for the civil space sector, services related to space activities, and other supporting and enhancing activities for the sector and supporting entrepreneurs and startups operating in the sector. For this purpose, the agency may:

  • A- Establish companies solely or in partnership with others, establish funds, or invest by purchasing shares or stakes or merging or acquiring companies or entities engaged in similar or related activities; inside or outside the Kingdom, according to the applicable legal procedures.

  • B- Purchase and acquire assets and conclude transactions in movable and immovable properties, and it may lease and mortgage those properties, according to the applicable legal procedures.

  • C- Approve the conclusion of agreements and contracts, according to the applicable legal procedures.

  • D- Establish research centers and academies supporting the civil space sector.

• 12- Working to raise awareness of space sciences, technologies, and their uses, in coordination with relevant entities.

The agency shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, with the membership of:

1- The Governor of the Communications, Space, and Technology Authority (Vice President).

2- The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

3- The President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

4- Three individuals with expertise and specialization in the agency's field of work, appointed by a decree from the President of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal from the President, with a membership term of (three) years, renewable for one additional term.

The Council is the authority that dominates the management of the agency's affairs, conducts its matters, and outlines its general policy within the limits of the provisions of the organization and other relevant laws. It makes all necessary decisions to achieve its purposes, and it has, in particular, the following:

1- Proposing policies related to the agency's activities, strategies, plans, and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting them to the authority to complete the legal procedures regarding them.

2- Proposing draft laws related to the agency's activities, suggesting amendments to the existing ones, and submitting them to the relevant regulatory and supervisory authority for the space sector in preparation for their approval according to the applicable legal procedures.

3- Approving the plans and technical requirements necessary for implementing, operating, and developing the infrastructure for the space sector, including ground stations, and activities and technologies related to space flights.

4- Approving the policies and standards related to the safety of space activities, space security, and their sustainability.

5- Approving the organizational structure of the agency.

6- Approving the administrative and financial regulations, and other regulations necessary for the agency's operations, provided that the approval of the administrative regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the approval of the financial regulations and provisions with financial implications in the administrative regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.

7- Approving the establishment of branches and offices for the agency inside or outside the Kingdom as needed.

8- Approving the agency's annual budget project, its final account, and its annual report; in preparation for submitting them according to the legal procedures.

9- Determining the financial counterpart for the services and works provided by the agency that the Council deems appropriate to charge a financial fee for.

10- Approving the engagement of research and planning centers, consulting firms, experts, and consultants, to achieve the agency's objectives.

11- Appointing an external auditor and an internal financial controller.

12- Approving the conclusion of agreements, memoranda of understanding, and contracts, according to the applicable legal procedures.

13- Accepting gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments in accordance with the regulations governing that.

14- Reviewing periodic reports submitted to it regarding the progress of work in the agency.

15- Approving the establishment of the agency for companies, funds, research centers, and academies supporting the space sector or contributing to it, in accordance with the legal procedures.

To achieve these competencies, the Council may form permanent or temporary committees from its members or others, delegating to them tasks it deems appropriate, specifying in the decision to form each committee its chairperson, members, and competencies. Each committee may seek assistance from whom it deems necessary to perform the tasks assigned to it, and the Council may delegate some of its competencies to its president, to any of its members, or to the CEO.

1- The Council meetings are held at the agency's headquarters or at any other location or remotely, chaired by the President or his deputy.

2- The Council holds its meetings periodically (four) times a year at least, and the President may call for a meeting whenever necessary, or whenever at least (four) members of the Council request it. The invitation to the meeting is to be sent by the President or his deputy in writing at least (seven) days prior to the meeting, and it must include the agenda and location of the meeting.

3- A Council meeting is valid if attended by at least the majority of the members, including the President or his deputy, and decisions are made by a majority of the votes of those present at least. In the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting voted for prevails, and decisions of the Council may be made by passing among the members.

4- The deliberations and decisions of the Council are recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the attending members.

5- A member of the Council may not abstain from voting, nor delegate another member to vote on his behalf in his absence. The dissenting member has the right to record his objection and the reasons for the objection in the minutes of the Council meeting.

6- The President may invite anyone he sees fit to attend the meetings without having the right to vote.

• 1- The agency shall have a Chief Executive Officer appointed by a decision of the Council, which shall specify his salary and financial benefits. He shall be responsible for managing the agency's affairs, and his responsibilities shall be limited to what is stipulated in the regulations and what the Council decides. He shall undertake the following competencies and tasks:

  • A- Supervising the workflow in the agency through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.

  • B- Proposing work policies related to the agency's activities, and the necessary plans and programs for their implementation, and submitting them to the Council, as well as following up on their implementation after approval.

  • C- Proposing the organizational structure of the agency, and drafts of the administrative and financial regulations and other internal regulations necessary for the agency's work, and submitting them to the Council for approval.

  • D- Appointing employees in the agency, supervising them, and terminating their services, in accordance with what is specified in the regulations.

  • E- Issuing orders for the agency's expenditures in accordance with the approved annual budget and the agency's regulations, and signing contracts, memoranda of understanding, and others as determined by the Council.

  • F- Preparing the draft annual budget of the agency, the draft of its final account, and its annual report, and submitting them to the Council for approval.

  • G- Representing the agency before the judiciary and at government entities, institutions, and other relevant bodies, both inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others in this regard.

  • H- Preparing periodic reports on the agency's workflow and achievements, and on what hinders the achievement of its objectives, along with his recommendations in this regard, and submitting them to the Council.

  • I- Submitting proposals to the Council regarding matters within the agency's jurisdiction.

  • J- Any other competencies assigned to him by the Council or the agency's regulations.

• 2- The Chief Executive Officer may delegate some of his competencies, tasks, and powers to other agency personnel.

• 1- The financial resources of the agency consist of the following:

  • A- The appropriations allocated to it in the state’s general budget.

  • B- What the council accepts in terms of gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments, in accordance with the regulations governing that.

  • C- The financial compensation for the services and works provided by the agency.

  • D- Any other resource approved by the council that does not violate the regulations and instructions.

  • E- The returns on investments of the agency's funds.

• 2- The agency's funds are deposited in a current account with the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank.

• 3- The agency shall open an account with the Saudi Central Bank and may open other accounts in any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom, and withdrawals from these accounts shall be made in accordance with the agency's budget and financial regulations.

1- The agency shall have an independent annual budget, issued in accordance with the arrangements for the issuance of the state’s general budget.

2- The financial year of the agency is the same as the financial year of the state.

Without prejudice to the authority of the General Court of Audit in overseeing the accounts and operations of the agency, the Council shall appoint an external auditor (or more) from those licensed to operate in the Kingdom, to audit its accounts, transactions, data, annual budget, and final account. The Council shall determine the auditor's fees, and the auditor shall submit a report to the Council, providing the General Court of Audit with a copy of it after it has been approved by the Council.