The following terms - wherever they appear in this regulation - shall have the meanings specified next to each of them unless the context requires otherwise:

General Panel: The General Panel for Media Regulation.

Regulation: The regulation of the Panel.

Minister: The Minister of Media.

Council: The Board of Directors of the Panel.

President: The Chief Executive Officer of the Panel.

Media Content: Media material directed to the public, whether written, read, printed, filmed, digital, or audiovisual, or any combination thereof, in all its forms and mediums (traditional and electronic) and any that may be developed.

The authority enjoys 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 right to establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.

A- The Authority shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister, with the membership of:

• 1- A representative from the Ministry of Interior Member

• 2- A representative from the Ministry of Commerce Member

• 3- A representative from the Ministry of Media Member

• 4- A representative from the Ministry of Culture Member

• 5- A representative from the Ministry of Finance Member

• 6- A representative from the Ministry of Investment Member

• 7- A representative from the Communications, Space and Technology Authority Member

• 8- A representative from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Member

• 9- The CEO of the General Authority for Media Regulation Member

• 10- Two individuals with expertise and specialization in the field of the Authority's work, appointed by a decree from the President of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal from the Minister, with a membership term of (three) years, renewable once. Members

B- The rank of the representatives of the government agencies referred to in paragraph (A) of this article shall not be less than (thirteenth) or its equivalent.

The Council is responsible for overseeing the management of the Authority's affairs and conducting its matters, and it makes all necessary decisions to achieve its objectives within the limits provided by the Law. It has, in particular, the following powers:

1- Approving the policies and strategies related to its competencies, as well as the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and raising any matters that require the completion of procedures.

2- Proposing draft laws and regulations related to the Authority's competencies, and suggesting amendments to those currently in force.

3- Approving the controls and procedures related to the licenses covered by the Authority's competencies.

4- Approving the administrative and financial regulations that govern the Authority and other necessary internal and technical regulations to manage its affairs, provided that the approval of financial regulations and provisions with financial implications in other regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Finance, and the approval of administrative regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

5- Approving the organizational structure of the Authority.

6- Approving the establishment of branches or offices for the Authority.

7- Approving the financial fees for the licenses issued by the Authority for practicing media activities, and for the services and works for which the Council sees fit to collect a financial fee.

8- Appointing an external auditor (or more) and an internal financial controller.

9- Approving the Authority's annual budget project, its final account, and the annual report, and submitting them according to the applicable legal procedures.

10- Adopting the auditor's report.

11- Reviewing the periodic reports submitted to it regarding the progress of work in the Authority.

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

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

14- Approving the purchase, sale, and investment of real estate, in accordance with the applicable laws.

15- Appointing the President, according to the organizational structure of the Authority approved by the Council.

16- Forming permanent or temporary committees from the Council members or others, assigning them tasks as deemed necessary, specifying in the formation decision of each committee its chairperson, members, and competencies, and allowing them to seek assistance from whom they see fit to perform the assigned tasks.

The Council may delegate some of its competencies to its President or to any of its members or to the Authority's staff as it sees fit.

1- The Council shall meet at least three times a year, and whenever necessary as determined by its President, or if requested by at least one-third of its members. The invitation to the meeting shall be issued by the President of the Council or by his delegate - in writing - sufficiently in advance of the meeting, and the invitation shall include the agenda.

2- The validity of the Council's meeting requires the presence of the majority of the members, including the President of the Council or his delegate from among the members - representatives of government entities - in the Council. Decisions shall be made by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting voted with shall prevail.

3- The Council may invite those it deems necessary to attend its meetings, without them having the right to vote.

4- 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 meeting.

5- The deliberations and decisions of the Council shall be documented in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the attending members.

6- The Council may, when necessary or in urgent cases or as deemed appropriate by the President of the Council or his delegate, hold meetings and vote on decisions remotely using technological means. Decisions may be made by circulating among the members of the Council, and they shall be signed to indicate that all members have been informed. A decision issued in this manner shall not be considered valid unless all members have voted on it, and this decision shall be presented to the Council at the first subsequent meeting to be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

7- The Council shall have a Secretary from the Authority's staff appointed by the Council - based on the President's nomination - who shall be responsible for the Council's secretariat, preparing for meetings, and recording the minutes, deliberations, and decisions.

The Authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer, who shall be appointed and dismissed from his position by a Decision of the Council, which shall determine his salary and financial benefits. He shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the Authority, and his responsibilities shall be limited to the regulations and what the Council decides. He shall undertake the following competencies:

1- Proposing policies and strategies related to the Authority's activities, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting them to the Council.

2- Supervising the workflow in the Authority through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.

3- Preparing the administrative and financial regulations that govern the Authority and other internal regulations, and submitting them to the Council.

4- Proposing the organizational structure of the Authority and submitting it to the Council.

5- Preparing the Authority's annual report, draft budget, and final accounts, and presenting them to the Council.

6- Preparing reports on the implementation of the Authority's plans and programs, and presenting them to the Council.

7- Signing agreements, protocols, and contracts after obtaining the Council's approval, and in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

8- Representing the Authority before the Judiciary, and before government entities, institutions, and other relevant bodies, as well as other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others to do so.

9- Disbursing from the Authority's budget, and taking all financial procedures in accordance with the approved laws and regulations, within the limits of the powers delegated to him by the Council.

10- Contracting for the execution of works, services, and others, in accordance with the laws and powers delegated to him by the Council.

11- Appointing the Authority's personnel in accordance with the regulations governing that.

12- Approving scholarships, secondments, and training for the Authority's personnel, in accordance with the regulations governing that.

13- Any other competencies assigned to him by the Council.

The President may delegate some of his competencies to whomever he sees fit among the Authority's personnel.

The resources of the Authority consist of the following:

1- The allocations designated for the Authority in the general state Budget.

2- The financial compensation that the state receives from media broadcasting licenses.

3- The financial compensation that the Authority receives for the licenses, services, and works it provides.

4- Any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments accepted by the Council.

5- The returns on the Authority's investments.

6- Any other resource approved by the Council, provided it does not violate the regulations and instructions.

1- All revenues of the authority shall be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank.

2- The authority 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 withdrawals from these accounts shall be made in accordance with the approved budget of the authority.