Yes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an environmental law, issued on July 10, 2020, consisting of forty-nine articles. This comprehensive and integrated law replaces the previous laws in force for environmental protection in the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture is responsible for regulating and overseeing the environmental sector, as well as all related activities and services, in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Law and its regulations. The law focuses on protecting, preserving, and developing the environment in the Kingdom, as environmental protection is a key principle stipulated in one of the articles of the Basic Law of Governance.
Anyone who violates any provision of the Environmental Law or its regulations is subject to one or more of the following penalties: a fine not exceeding SAR20 million, suspension of the license or permit to conduct any activity with an environmental impact for a period not exceeding six months, or revocation of the license or permit.
The Environmental Law is part of the Kingdom’s broader developmental framework aimed at environmental preservation. This includes the approval of the National Environmental Strategy, the designation of an Environmental Week, and the establishment of five environmental centers: the National Center for Meteorology, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the National Center for Environmental Compliance, the National Center for Wildlife, and the National Center for Waste Management. Additionally, an Environmental Fund has been established to promote financial sustainability in the sector.
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