Article 27 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 27 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الخامس: الحياة الفطرية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 تحددها الجهة المختصة.
2- أن يكون الصيد في الأماكن والأوقات التي تحددها الجهة المختصة.
3- عدم استخدام وسائل جذب الحيوانات والطيور أو الوسائل التي تؤدي إلى اصطياد أكثر من حيوان أو طير دفعة واحدة.
وتحدد اللوائح الضوابط اللازمة لذلك، بما فيها وسائل الصيد المسموح باستخدامها.
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 27 explained in plain English
This Article regulates hunting. It begins with a strict rule and then opens a controlled exception.
The rule: It is prohibited to hunt live wild animals.
The exception: Specific species of them may be hunted after obtaining a license, subject to three conditions:
- Hunting must be limited to the species that the competent authority specifies.
- It must take place in the places and at the times that the competent authority specifies.
- No use of means of attracting animals and birds, or of means that result in catching more than one animal or bird at once.
This means a license alone is not enough: a licensed hunter remains bound by the specified species, places and times, and is barred from using lures and mass-capture methods.
The regulations set the necessary controls for this, including the hunting methods that may be used. The Article does not mention particular seasons, places or weapons; these are left to what the competent authority and the regulations specify.
This Article is linked to Article 26, which prohibits killing or harming live wild animals except in specific cases set out in the regulations, and to Article 23, which concerns endangered species whose hunting is prohibited. If you hunt as a hobby, you may wish to consult a lawyer who specializes in environmental law.
Practical example
Abdulrahman obtained a hunting license and went out in the season and place that the competent authority specified. But he wanted to use a device that plays bird calls to attract birds. This is prohibited by the third condition in Article 27, even with a license.
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 27 of the Saudi Environment Law
Is hunting allowed in Saudi Arabia?
In principle, hunting live wild animals is prohibited. As an exception, specific species may be hunted after obtaining a license and subject to the conditions in the Article.
Can bird-attracting devices be used for hunting?
No. The Article requires that no means of attracting animals and birds be used.
Who decides the places and times for hunting?
The competent authority specifies the hunting places and times and the species that may be hunted.
Where can I find the permitted hunting methods?
The Article provides that the regulations set the necessary controls, including the hunting methods that may be used.
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 26
The Article prohibits killing or harming live wild animals, and as an exception allows killing them in specific cases set out in the regulations.
يُحظر قتل الكائنات الفطرية الحيوانية الحية أو إيذاؤها. واستثناء من ذلك، يجوز في حالات محددة قتل تلك الكائنات، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
- 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.