In this Statute, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

Authority: Saudi Tourism Authority.

Statute: Statute of the Authority.

Ministry: Ministry of Tourism.

Minister: Minister of Tourism. Board: Board of Directors of the Authority.

Chairman: Chairman of the Board. CEO: Chief Executive Officer of the Authority.

Tourism Sector Strategy: The general strategy for the development of national tourism, and any other strategy approved in the future for the tourism sector.

Tourism Marketing: A group of tourism-related activities such as communication, promotion, and advertisement of tourism; promoting tourism sales and products; distribution through various channels; and holding tourism exhibitions, activities, and events and supporting the organization thereof; as well as other activities relating to the marketing process.

Tourist Routes: Routes designated by the Authority, in coordination with the Ministry, to target specific categories of tourists in specific areas of tourism through particular programs and projects.

Visitor: A tourist as defined in the Tourism Law, and a person who visits the Holy City of Makkah for the purpose of Umrah or visits Madinah for the purpose of visiting the Prophet's Mosque.

The Authority shall have a public legal personality with financial and administrative independence and shall report to the Minister. It shall be headquartered in the city of Riyadh and may establish branches or offices within the Kingdom or abroad, as needed.

The Authority aims to present the Kingdom as a tourist destination domestically and globally, attract visitors, promote tourism within the Kingdom, and achieve integration and cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure an enhanced visitor experience, for the benefit of the national economy. The Authority may, without prejudice to the functions and responsibilities of other relevant agencies, take any actions necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:

1. Setting the plans and policies necessary for marketing tourism in the Kingdom domestically and globally, and completing the necessary procedures therefor.

2. Marketing tourist destinations in the Kingdom, and making recommendations for their development in coordination with the Ministry.

3. Supporting and marketing tourism activities and events held by government agencies and the private sector.

4. Establishing a database containing all tourism sites, destinations, products, services, and events, and updating it periodically, in cooperation with the relevant agencies.

5. Conducting business activities related to the promotion of Umrah and allocation of visits, including the development and management of any platform created for such purpose in coordination with the relevant agencies.

6. Surveying the visitor experience; setting the criteria, tools, and mechanisms necessary therefor; identifying the priorities and challenges of the visitor's experience; and sharing results and performance reports with the Ministry.

7. Proposing the designs, policies, and procedures necessary for the development of tourist sites and destinations which are in need of rehabilitation or modernization, and submitting the same to the Ministry.

8. Working with renowned local and international companies and institutions to provide products and tools of professional tourism content, and benefiting from their experiences in tourism marketing in the Kingdom.

9. Working with the private sector to develop tourism products and offer such products in local and international markets and platforms specializing in tourism marketing.

10. Conducting marketing studies and research on opportunities for enhancing the visitor’s experience in the Kingdom.

11. Cooperating and exchanging expertise with regional and international entities and organizations in the field of tourism, in the Kingdom and abroad, within the limits of the Authority's functions.

12. Launching marketing campaigns in the Kingdom and abroad to promote tourism sites and products in the Kingdom.

13. Creating trademarks and registering such trademarks and other intellectual property rights related to tourism marketing in the Kingdom in the name of the Authority, and taking any actions related thereto and to the utilization thereof, in accordance with relevant laws.

14. Developing media plans that support tourism marketing and implementing such plans within the Kingdom and abroad.

15. Holding and organizing tourism forums, conferences, symposia, and exhibitions within the Kingdom and abroad and participating therein in coordination with the relevant agencies in a manner that promotes tourism marketing in the Kingdom.

16. Providing administrative, technical, and advisory support to the owners of tourism products in the Kingdom and marketing such products, and supporting the tourism projects of small and medium enterprises in cooperation with the relevant government agencies.

17. Developing and implementing training programs which aim to raise the efficiency of tourism marketing and contribute to the qualification and training of human resources in this field, in cooperation with local and international training institutions.

18. Promoting tourist destinations under the supervision of the relevant government agencies in agreement with such agencies.

19. Supervising promotional campaigns and advertisements for tourist destinations in the Kingdom.

20. Proposing to the Ministry investment opportunities that are necessary to improve the tourism experience in the Kingdom for all tourist routes designated by the Authority, in light of the tourism sector strategy.

21. Working and coordinating with the Ministry, government agencies, and the private sector to develop a policy for marketing tourist destinations and distributing tourism products outside the Kingdom, in a manner that ensures concerted efforts and enhances the Kingdom's position as a global tourist destination.

22. Coordinating with the private sector in tourism marketing to achieve the tourism sector strategy target with regards to the number of visitors and their spending.

23. Working with government agencies concerned with tourist destinations to establish tourism marketing offices for such destinations, supervise the tourism marketing plans of such offices, and determine the targeted number of visitors and their spending in a manner that enhances the role of the private sector.

24. Designating tourist routes in light of the tourism sector strategy, in coordination with the Ministry, and working with the agencies concerned with each route to ensure that the tourism experience offered in the Kingdom is on par with the highest international standards.

The Authority may, when preparing visitor experience survey reports, request any information, data, or reports from government agencies or the private sector. Such entities shall provide the required information, facilitate survey procedures at the sites and activities under their supervision, and provide any additional information requested by the Authority regarding each tourist route, as specified by the Authority, and in a manner not inconsistent with relevant laws, regulations, and decisions.

• 1- The authority shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister, and consisting of the following members:

  • A- The Chief Executive Officer.

  • B- A representative from the Ministry of Culture.

  • C- A representative from the Ministry of Sport.

  • D- A representative from the Ministry.

  • E- A representative from the General Entertainment Authority.

  • F- A representative from the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

  • G- A representative from the Public Investment Fund.

  • H- Members not exceeding (three) in number, who are specialists and have experience in the fields of the authority's work.

  • I- A representative from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

• 2- The members referred to in subparagraph (H) of paragraph (1) of this article shall be appointed by an order from the President of the Council of Ministers based on a nomination from the President, and their membership in the council shall be for a period of (three) years, renewable for a similar period and once only.

• 3- The rank of representatives of government entities in the council shall not be less than the (fifteenth) rank or its equivalent.

• 4- The President shall choose from among the council members - excluding the members referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (H) of paragraph (1) of this article - a deputy who shall replace him in his absence.

The Board shall be the Authority’s highest authority, and shall oversee its management and the conduct of its affairs. The Board may exercise all the powers and take all the measures necessary to achieve its objectives within the limits of this Statute, and may, in particular, undertake the following:

1. Approving the Authority's strategy.

2. Approving the plans and policies necessary for the implementation of the tourism sector strategy.

3. Approving the Authority's organizational chart and organizational guide.

4. Approving the Authority’s financial and administrative regulations as well as other internal regulations necessary for the conduct of its affairs, provided that the administrative regulations are approved in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and that the financial regulations and the provisions that have a financial impact in other regulations are approved in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.

5. Approving the annual operational plans.

6. Determining the fees for works and services provided by the Authority.

7. Appointing an external auditor and a comptroller.

8. Approving the Authority's draft annual budget, final accounts, and annual report as well as the auditor's report, in preparation for submission in accordance with legal procedures.

9. Reviewing periodic reports submitted on the Authority’s work progress.

10. Approving the conclusion of agreements, protocols, and contracts in accordance with legal procedures.

11. Accepting gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments in accordance with relevant provisions.

12. Approving the establishment of branches or offices for the Authority within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Board may delegate some of its powers to the Chairman, any Board member, the CEO, or any of the Authority's employees.

The Board may form standing or ad-hoc committees from among its members or others and delegate some of its powers thereto or entrust them with certain tasks. The formation decision of each committee shall determine its chairman, members, secretary, and functions. Such committees may assign to others any of the tasks and functions entrusted thereto.

1. The Board shall convene upon a call by its Chairman or his designee at least every three months, or as necessary. The call must be made in writing at least seven days prior to the date set for the meeting and shall include the meeting agenda.

2. Board meetings shall not be deemed valid unless attended by the majority of members, provided that the Chairman or his designee is present.

3. Board decisions shall be passed by the majority vote of attending members; in case of a tie, the chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.

4. Board meetings shall be held at the Authority’s headquarters, and may, when necessary, be held elsewhere within the Kingdom or abroad. Board meetings may be held and decisions may be voted on using any means of technology.

5. The Board may invite any person it deems appropriate to attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity to provide information, opinions, or clarifications.

6. Board deliberations and decisions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the meeting chairman and attending members.

7. A Board member may not abstain from voting nor vote by proxy. A member who objects to any decision shall record his objection and the reasons therefor in the meeting minutes.

8. Board decisions may, at the Chairman's discretion, be passed by circulation without holding a meeting; in such case, all Board members must approve the decision. Such decision shall be presented at the first subsequent meeting to be recorded in the meeting minutes.

9. The Board shall have a secretary from among the Authority's employees to be appointed by the Board, upon the Chairman’s nomination. The secretary shall assume the duties of the Board secretariat; prepare for meetings; and record minutes, deliberations, and decisions.

10. A member may not disclose any of the Authority's confidential information he becomes privy to even after his Board membership ends.

The Authority shall have a CEO who shall be nominated by the Chairman and whose appointment and dismissal shall be pursuant to a Board decision. The appointment decision shall determine his remuneration and financial benefits. The CEO shall be responsible for managing the Authority’s affairs, and his responsibilities and powers shall be within the limits of this Statute and pursuant to Board decisions or delegations thereto, and he may, in particular, exercise the following powers:

1. Preparing the plans and policies necessary for the implementation of strategies relating to the Authority's activities, and submitting the same to the Board.

2. Supervising the Authority’s work progress in accordance with laws and regulations as well as approved plans and programs.

3. Preparing the Authority’s administrative and financial regulations as well as other internal regulations, in preparation for submission to the Board.

4. Proposing the Authority’s organizational chart and organizational guide and submitting them to the Board.

5. Overseeing the preparation of the Authority's annual report, draft budget, and final accounts in preparation for their presentation to the Board.

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

7. Signing agreements and protocols upon the Board's approval, in accordance with applicable legal procedures.

8. Representing the Authority before the judiciary, government agencies, other relevant institutions and entities, and other entities within the Kingdom and abroad; the CEO may delegate such power.

9. Disbursing from the Authority's budget and carrying out all financial transactions in accordance with the law as well as the regulations approved by the Board, and within the powers delegated to him by the Board.

10. Contracting for the execution of works and services and the like, in accordance with the law and the powers delegated to him by the Board.

11. Establishing branches or offices for the Authority within the Kingdom and abroad upon the Board's approval.

12. Issuing the decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Statute and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, in accordance with the powers delegated to him.

13. Appointing the Authority's employees in accordance with governing regulations and supervising their work.

14. Any other power delegated thereto by the Board.

The CEO may delegate any of his powers to other Authority employees.

1. The Authority's resources shall consist of the following:

a) Allocations in the State budget.

b) Fees received by the Authority for the services and works provided thereby.

c) Gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments accepted by the Board.

d) Any other resource approved by the Board not inconsistent with laws and instructions.

2. Authority revenues shall be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance at the Saudi Central Bank. The Authority may open other accounts with any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Disbursement from such accounts shall be made in accordance with the Authority's approved budget.