The following terms and expressions – wherever they appear in this Executive Regulation – shall have the meanings set forth below, except where it is therein expressly otherwise:

• Law: Environmental Law.

• Founding Regulations: Founding Regulations of the National Center for Wildlife Development.

• Executive Regulation: Executive Regulation for Hunting Terrestrial Wildlife Species.

• Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Minister: Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

• Center: National Center for Wildlife Development. Committee: Violations’ Review Committee. Inspectors: Employees designated by the Minister or the chairman of the board of directors of the Center to inspect, investigate, substantiate and apprehend violations to the provisions of this Executive Regulation. Security Authorities: Any security authority within the Ministry of Interior, within its jurisdiction.

• Person: Any public or private natural or legal person.

• License: A document issued by the Center authorizing a person to undertake an environmental activity.

• Licensee: A person who is granted a license in accordance with the provisions of this Executive Regulation. Wildlife species: Any living or dead organism which scientifically belongs to the animal or plant groupings, excluding human and domestic or domesticated animals. Habitats: Sites where wildlife species can naturally live, grow or reproduce, in an interconnected and integrated way with the surrounding conditions.

• Animal Wildlife Species: All wildlife species which scientifically belong to the animal groups and which live and wander freely on the Kingdom’s land (mammals, predators, birds, reptiles, etc.). Vegetation

• Cover Lands: Any state-owned land that contains wild plants and the like. These include rangelands, forests, national, terrestrial, and geological parks, wetlands, steppe regions, sandy areas (dunes), mountain areas, valleys, coastal areas, and islands.

• Wetlands: Lands which are naturally or artificially, permanently or temporarily covered with stagnant or running water, freshwater, or brackish water. These areas have special biological systems and attract migratory birds. They include but are not limited to lakes, swamps, ponds, floodplains, marshes, and running water estuaries.

• Hunting: Engaging, chasing, capturing, injuring, slaying, or other acts that constitute an effective hunting of any wildlife animal species, unless otherwise specified by the Center.

• Derivative: Any substance extracted from wildlife species, whether naturally or artificially.

• Product: Any non-manufactured or partially or entirely manufactured part of a wildlife species.

• Private Hunting Reserve: A fenced private site with defined entrances and exits within which hunting is allowed by virtue of a license from the Center.

The provisions of this Executive Regulation shall apply to all terrestrial wildlife animal species inside the Kingdom’s territory and aim at implementing the environment law provisions related to wildlife animal species.

The Center shall undertake the following:

• (1) Issuing and adopting – when needed – lists of species whose hunting is allowed or prohibited.

• (2) Issuing and adopting – when needed – hunting quantities for each species and the amounts allowed for each license.

• (3) Designating sites where hunting is allowed in the Kingdom.

• (4) Setting the starting and ending dates of hunting seasons as well as permitted times for hunting and implementing temporary hunting prohibitions in the Kingdom.

• (5) Specifying the permitted or prohibited hunting tools and equipment.

• (6) Issuing and disseminating hunting-related data, which specifies the species allowed for hunting, hunting seasons and sites, permitted tools, etc. on a periodic basis during time periods set by the Center.

• (7) Suggesting a detailed list of violations of the law and the Executive Regulations along with the related penalties and submitting it to the Ministry.

• (8) Implementing international and regional conventions on wildlife animal species and hunting that are ratified by the Kingdom.

• (9) Setting and approving rules, controls, and requirements related to licensing mechanisms for hunting and hunting reserves and collecting the relevant financial dues.

• (10) Issuing and renewing licenses for hunting and hunting reserves.

• (11) Issuing and publishing national reports on hunting.

• (12) Identifying mechanisms and procedures for inspection, control, and reporting of violations to the law and Executive Regulations.

• (13) Inspection and monitoring, and apprehending violations of the law and Executive Regulations.

• (14) Establishing and managing shelters for seized wildlife species.

• (15) Coordinating with Ministry of Interior with regard to licensing firearms for hunting.

• (16) Coordinating with Ministry of Interior with regard to enforcing the Executive Regulations and apprehending hunting violations.

• (17) Coordinating with Ministry of Health with regard to public safety conditions to be stipulated during hunting activities.

• (18) Coordinating with Deputy Ministry of Animal Resources with regard to regulating hunting activities in the event of epidemic disease outbreaks.

• (19) Coordinating with the National Center for Vegetation Cover with regard to regulating hunting activities in vegetation cover lands.

• (20) Organizing environmental guidance activities related to hunting, including sessions, seminars, specialized working sessions, and media campaigns.

(1) Hunting is permitted in sites designated and periodically announced by the Center.

(2) The hunting of wildlife animal species is prohibited in the following places:

• Within the two Holy Shrines. 

• Within cities and villages.

• Within heritage sites.

• Within wetlands and a radius of 2 kilometers therefrom.

• Within all declared protected areas unless otherwise specified in a license issued by the Center under specific requirements and controls.

• Within all vegetation cover lands unless otherwise specified in a license issued by the Center under specific requirements and controls.

• The land border area defined pursuant to the border security law and Executive Regulations thereof.

• Main and side roads and within a distance of 2 kilometers therefrom.

• Beach premises.

• Shoreline of all the Kingdom’s coasts and at a width of 20 kilometers therefrom.

• Any other places specified by the Center.

(3) The use or leasing of farms, rest houses, and private properties for hunting purposes is prohibited.

(4) The sites where hunting is allowed must be at least 2 kilometers away from residential areas, mosques, and public and private facilities.

(1) Hunting is prohibited outside the times and dates set by the Center.

(2) Hunting at night is prohibited, and the ban period shall extend from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise.

(3) The Center shall – as needed – update and amend hunting seasons and times, and issue the necessary relevant decisions.

(1) It is prohibited to use tools and equipment that enable hunting more than one species at a time, such as: shotguns, nets, falling nets, traps, trapping pits, glues and adhesives, bright lights, etc.

(2) It is prohibited to use all kinds of firearms in hunting, except inside the private hunting reserves licensed by the Center and as specified by the Center.

(3) It is prohibited to use tools that attract wildlife species in hunting, such as owls, artificial and natural floating birds, and hunting call devices and recorders that reproduce sounds of birds and animals, etc.

(4) It is prohibited to use chemicals, narcotic drugs, poisons, gas, smoke, and electric devices in hunting.

(5) It is prohibited to use hunting tools and equipment aboard all kinds of moving vehicles.

(6) It is prohibited to use any vehicle to chase wildlife animal species.

(7) It is prohibited to hunt with weapons other than those licensed by relevant authorities and allowed for hunting by the Center, or other means the Center specifies.

(8) The Center shall issue – when needed – decisions including updated lists of allowed and prohibited hunting tools and equipment.

(9) The Center shall prohibit – upon coordination with Ministry of Interior – the sale, display, promotion, trade, or acquisition of any firearms, air weapons, or shotguns that are prohibited for the purpose of hunting inside the Kingdom.

(10) The Center shall prohibit – upon coordination with relevant authorities – the sale, display, promotion, trade, or acquisition of any other tools or equipment that are not specified in the aforementioned clause and that are prohibited for the purpose of hunting inside the Kingdom.

First: Hunting Licenses

(1) Engaging in hunting activities without a prior license from the Center, is prohibited.

(2) The hunting license is personal and may not be assigned to a person other than the licensee. It must be carried along with the license of weapons used for hunting, and must be presented to inspectors and the competent security authority.

(3) The person applying for a hunting license must:

• a. Be at least twenty-one years old.

• b. Not have committed two violations or more of the Executive Regulations with less than two years elapsed since the last decision was issued on the last violation.

(4) The person applying for a hunting license must submit an application to the Center or whoever the Center delegates, enclosed with the documents specified by the Center.

(5) The Center shall issue its decision on license applications within five (5) working days as of the registration date of each completed application.

(6) The issued hunting license shall include the following:

• a. Licensee’s name, identity proof (ID/residence card number) and address.

• b. Types of wildlife animal species the licensee is allowed to hunt.

• c. Hunting tools and equipment permitted for use for each wildlife animal species permitted for hunting.

• d. Quantities of wildlife animal species permitted for hunting in the license terms.

• e. The designated hunting site or area.

• f. The license term.

(7) The license shall be granted upon the settlement of the financial dues specified by the Center.

(8) The license term must not exceed one year from issuance date.

(9) Holders of licenses must comply with its requirements and renew them through the Center upon their expiry.

(10) Every applicant for license renewal must submit an application enclosed with the documents specified by the Center. Second: Licenses for Private Hunting Reserves

(1) The Center shall issue and disseminate requirements, controls, and required instructions that are necessary for licensing hunting reserves.

(2) It is prohibited to establish or operate a hunting reserve without a prior license from the Center.

(3) It is prohibited to use wildlife animal species of unknown origin or that obtained or multiplied in an illegal manner for the purpose of using them in hunting reserves, unless

otherwise specified by the Center.

(4) Every applicant for a license for a private hunting reserve must submit an application to the Center, enclosed with the documents specified by the Center.

(5) The Center shall issue its decision on license applications within two months as of the registration date of each completed application.

(6) The license issued for a private hunting reserve shall include the following:

• a. Commercial register number.

• b. The wildlife animal species the licensee has the right to display for hunting in the hunting reserve.

• c. Hunting times permitted in the hunting reserve.

• d. Hunting means, tools, and equipment permitted for use in the hunting reserve.

• e. The license term.

(7) The license shall be granted upon the settlement of financial dues specified by the Center.

(8) The license term shall not exceed two (2) years as of the date of issuance.

(9) Copies of the private license of hunting reserve must be displayed at each reserve entrance.

(10) Any person not holding a valid hunting license is prohibited from hunting in private hunting reserves.

(11) The private hunting reserve licensee must provide every hunter with a hunting statement, specifying types of the hunted wildlife animal species, and the amounts of hunted animals of each species. The statement shall also include the person’s name, his hunting license number, and the reserve stamp.

(12) Every hunting licensee – when hunting in private hunting reserves – must keep the hunted terrestrial wildlife animal species in the vehicle used for hunting and show them to inspectors or security authorities upon their request along with the statement issued by the reserve, as per the previous clause.

(13) The private hunting reserve licensee must appoint controllers and supervisors to ensure oversight of hunting inside the reserve and to prevent hunting violations the use of prohibited hunting means, or hunting in prohibited times and periods according to the Executive Regulations. The reserve owner shall notify the Center of any violations that may occur in the reserve.

(14) The private hunting reserve licensee must provide the Center with monthly reports that include the following information:

• a. Data on hunters, including their names and hunting license numbers.

• b. Data on hunted or dead species, including amounts per species.

• c. Any other information related to the reserve activities as may be requested by the Center.

• (15) The private hunting reserve licensee must comply with the license requirements and must renew it through the Center upon expiry. (16) Every applicant for renewal of a private hunting reserve license must submit an application enclosed with the documents specified by the Center. Third: Licenses for Hunting Wildlife Animal Species for Scientific and Research Purposes

(1) It is prohibited to hunt wildlife animal species for scientific and research purposes without a prior license from the Center.

(2) The Center shall issue licenses for hunting wildlife animal species for scientific and research purposes, and if hunted animals are released alive, this shall be in accordance with the requirements and controls set by the Center.

(3) The Center shall set the requirements and controls related to granting hunting licenses for scientific and research purposes.

(4) The Center shall issue its decision on license applications within two (2) months as of the registration date of each completed application.

(5) The license term shall extend as the research requires.

(6) Research teams must comply with the requirements of licenses for hunting wildlife animal species for scientific and research purposes.

(7) Research teams must provide the Center with a copy of the research’s findings upon completion thereof, including photographs, data, and maps. Fourth: Hunting Licenses for Regulating Numbers and Preserving Species

(1) The Center shall issue licenses for hunting specific wildlife animal species in order to regulate their numbers and preserve their species.

(2) These licenses include the amounts permitted for hunting, hunting seasons and times, tools and equipment permitted for hunting, and the license term.

(3) The Center shall set the necessary requirements and controls to regulate this activity.

(1) Every hunting licensee shall keep the hunted wildlife animal species in the hunting vehicle and show them to inspectors or to the competent security authority.

(2) It is prohibited to display hunted wildlife animal species outside vehicles, on highways, on the Internet or any other means of display.

(3) It is prohibited to sell hunted wildlife animal species or their products or derivatives without a prior license from the Center.

(4) It is prohibited to export hunted wildlife animal species without a prior license from the Center.

Violations of the Executive Regulations shall be apprehended, penalties shall be applied, and compensation for the environmental damage caused by the violations shall be assessed in accordance with the Executive Regulations for Apprehension of Violations and Imposition of Penalties, of the Environmental Law. Tables (1) and (2) set forth violations and penalties.