Article 26 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 26 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الخامس: الحياة الفطرية
The Article prohibits killing or harming live wild animals, and as an exception allows killing them in specific cases set out in the regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر قتل الكائنات الفطرية الحيوانية الحية أو إيذاؤها. واستثناء من ذلك، يجوز في حالات محددة قتل تلك الكائنات، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 26 explained in plain English
This Article sets a general rule protecting live wild animals.
The rule: It is prohibited to:
- Kill these organisms.
- Harm them, even if it does not amount to killing.
The exception: These organisms may be killed in specific cases set out in the regulations. The exception in the text concerns killing only; it does not mention an exception for harming. The Article does not list these cases itself, so no exception should be assumed beyond what the regulations provide.
Who does the rule cover? Under Article 1, wildlife means organisms that belong scientifically to animal or plant groups, and it excludes humans and domesticated and tame organisms. So the Article does not deal with tame or domesticated animals such as livestock; it deals with live wild land and marine animals.
This Article differs from Article 23, which concerns endangered species only; Article 26 applies generally to all live wild animals. It is followed by Article 27, which regulates hunting: it is prohibited in principle and permitted, under a license, for specific species and subject to conditions. If you face a situation involving a wild animal, you may wish to consult a lawyer who specializes in environmental law.
Practical example
Saad came across a fox in the desert near his camp and wanted to chase it and throw stones at it to drive it away. Harming a live wild animal is prohibited by the text of Article 26, and the cases in which killing is permitted are set by the regulations, so he may not act on his own judgment.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 26 of the Saudi Environment Law
Can wild animals be killed?
In principle, killing them is prohibited. As an exception, it is permitted in specific cases set out in the regulations.
Is harming an animal without killing it also prohibited?
Yes. The Article prohibits killing or harming live wild animals.
Does the Article cover pets and livestock?
No. The definition of wildlife in Article 1 excludes domesticated and tame organisms.
More articles on Hunting and Wildlife
- Article 23
The article tasks the competent authority with specifying the endangered wild organism species whose killing, hunting, or trade in them, their derivatives or products is prohibited.
تُحدد الجهة المختصة أنواع الكائنات الفطرية المهددة بالانقراض التي يُحظر قتلها أو صيدها، أو الاتجار بها أو مشتقاتها أو منتجاتها.
- Article 24
The article prohibits, without a license, trading in, transporting, selling and possessing wild organism species the competent authority specifies, and keeping live animals of them in controlled places or using them in shows.
1- يُحظر -دون الحصول على ترخيص فيما يتعلق بأنواع الكائنات الفطرية التي تحددها الجهة المختصة- القيام بأي مما يأتي: أ- الاتجار بأي منها أو منتجاتها أو مشتقاتها، س
- Article 25
The Article prohibits importing, exporting or re-exporting, for non-commercial purposes, species of wildlife or their products or derivatives that the competent authority specifies, without the competent authority's approval.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الرابعة والعشرين) من النظام، يُحظر استيراد أو تصدير أو إعادة تصدير -للأغراض غير التجارية- أي من أنواع الكائنات الفطرية
- Article 27
The Article prohibits hunting live wild animals, and allows hunting specific species under a license, provided the specified species, places and times are respected and no lures or mass-capture methods are used.
يُحظر صيد الكائنات الفطرية الحيوانية الحية. واستثناء من ذلك، يجوز صيد أنواع محددة منها بعد الحصول على ترخيص، مع مراعاة الآتي: 1- أن يُقصر الصيد على الأنواع التي
- Article 28
The Article prohibits bringing any biological control agent into the Kingdom, or using one, without a license, in accordance with the regulations.
يُحظر إدخال أي من وسائل المكافحة الحيوية إلى المملكة، أو استخدام أي منها؛ دون الحصول على ترخيص، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.