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

• Regulation: Regulation of the National Center for Meteorology.

• Center: National Center for Meteorology.

• 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.

• National Centers for the Environment and Meteorology Sectors: National Center for Environmental Compliance, National Centers for Meteorology, National Center for Wildlife, and 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 meteorological activities, in accordance with the relevant regulations and rules.

• License: A written permission issued by the Center to carry out any work or activity related to meteorology, in accordance with the relevant regulations and rules.

1- A center called "National Center for Meteorology" 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 located in the Governorate of Jeddah, and it may, by a decision of the Council, establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.

The center aims to monitor and observe the weather and climate conditions and the elements that affect them, as well as the atmospheric and marine phenomena and their impacts on forms of life, 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 do everything necessary to achieve its objectives, and it shall specifically have the following:

• 1- Develop initiatives, programs, and projects for meteorology, and follow up on their implementation.

• 2- Develop executive plans for work, and follow up on their implementation, concerning its competencies in the approved national environmental strategies, plans, programs, projects, and initiatives.

• 3- Propose meteorological standards, criteria, controls, and requirements related to its competencies, and submit them to the Ministry for approval.

• 4- Monitor weather and climate conditions and the elements affecting them, monitor atmospheric and marine phenomena, and prepare short- and long-term weather forecasts for all regions of the Kingdom around the clock.

• 5- Build meteorological and measurement networks and stations, operate, test, calibrate, and manage them throughout the Kingdom; to collect direct measurements, data, and information about weather, climate, and atmospheric and marine phenomena and develop them.

• 6- Analyze measurements, data, and information related to weather, climate, and atmospheric and marine phenomena, share them with relevant entities, conduct simulations, and issue reports regarding them.
  7- Establish a continuous and documented national database that includes weather and climate data.
  8- Build communication, warning, and early warning networks, and operate them concerning weather and climate conditions.
  9- Issue early warnings and alerts about weather and climate conditions to relevant government entities and community members.
  10- Issue weather and climate forecasts for relevant entities in a timely manner.
  11- Issue licenses and permits -related to its competencies- stipulated in the relevant laws and regulations, according to a regulation issued by the Council.
  12- Approve the rules, conditions, and controls related to the licenses and permits it issues, determine the financial fees for them, and collect them.
  13- Prepare emergency preparedness plans and lead the response to emergencies under its competencies, and implement them in coordination with relevant entities.
  14- Obtain information and data related to its competencies and needs from individuals and governmental and non-governmental entities; to perform its tasks.
  15- Encourage investment and financing in areas related to its competencies.
  16- Establish training programs in areas related to its competencies and promote them; to enhance the performance level of administrative and technical staff.
  17- Approve professional training programs and entities granting certificates specialized in training in areas related to its competencies.
  18- Organize meteorological guidance activities, including holding courses, seminars, and specialized workshops related to its competencies.
  19- Prepare studies and reports related to its competencies and review them.
  20- Cooperate with universities, research centers, and institutions concerning its competencies.
  21- Operate international centers hosted by the Kingdom related to its competencies.
  22- Any other task related to its competencies, approved by the Council.

1- The Center shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister and composed of:

• A- A representative from the Environmental Sector in the Ministry as a member and Vice Chairman.

• B- A representative from the Ministry of Defense as a member.

• C- A representative from the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Civil Defense) as a member.

• D- A representative from the General Authority of Civil Aviation as a member.

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

2- The rank of the representatives of the government entities in the Board shall not be less than (fourteenth grade) 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 provisions of the organization. In particular, it has the following:

• 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, and 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 in its area of competence.

• 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 in accordance with the applicable regulations.

• 10- Approving the mechanisms necessary to ensure quality and sustainability in services and works and funding 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 any of its members or to officials in the center as required by the workflow therein.

1- The Council meets - periodically - at the invitation of its President, his Deputy, or at least a majority of the members, provided that its meetings are not less than two meetings during the 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 is favored.

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 present members, and a member who objects to any decision may record his objection with justification 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 shall specify his salary and other financial benefits, and he shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the center. His responsibilities are limited to what is stipulated in the regulations and what the Council decides, 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 meteorological 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, as well as the necessary plans and programs.

• 4- Supervising the workflow in the center according to 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 and draft budget and final accounts, in preparation for submitting them to the Council.

• 9- Supervising 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 agencies, and other relevant institutions, as well as other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others to do so.

• 11- Seeking the assistance of qualified and required experts, specialists, and consultants in areas related to the center's competencies.

• 12- Disbursing 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 provision of 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- What the council accepts in terms of gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments.

• 4- Any other resource approved by the council.

1- The financial consideration collected by the center shall be deposited with the fund, and the remaining revenues of the center shall be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank.

2- The center shall open 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, and disbursements from these accounts shall be made in accordance with the center's budget.