Article 37 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 37 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثامن: المخالفات وضبطها وإيقاع العقوبات
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the competent authority, carries out security monitoring of environmental compliance, apprehends violators and refers them, and supports environmental inspectors on request.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بما ورد في المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من النظام، تتولى وزارة الداخلية -بالتنسيق مع الجهة المختصة- القيام بالآتي:
1- المراقبة الأمنية لتحقيق الالتزام البيئي، واتخاذ جميع التدابير الأمنية اللازمة لمنع ارتكاب أي مخالفة لأحكام النظام.
2- ضبط مخالفي أحكام النظام واللوائح وإحالتهم إلى الجهة المعنية؛ لاتخاذ الإجراءات النظامية المتبعة.
3- تقديم المساندة والدعم الأمني -عند الطلب- للمفتشين المشار إليهم في المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من النظام، وذلك فيما يتصل بأعمال التفتيش وضبط المخالفات.
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 37 explained in plain English
This Article sets out the security role in enforcing the Environment Law. It assigns specific tasks to the Ministry of Interior, which carries them out in coordination with the competent authority, without prejudice to Article 36 on inspectors.
The Ministry of Interior has three tasks under the text:
- Security monitoring to achieve environmental compliance, and taking all necessary security measures to prevent any violation of the provisions of the Law.
- Apprehending violators of the Law and regulations and referring them to the relevant authority to take the prescribed legal procedures.
- Supporting inspectors: providing security support and assistance, on request, to the inspectors referred to in Article 36, in connection with inspection and violation-detection work.
The phrase "without prejudice to Article 36" means the Ministry of Interior's role does not cancel or replace the inspectors' role. Article 36 gives inspectors, designated by decision of the Minister or the chairman of the board of the competent authority, the task of detecting, investigating and proving violations, with powers such as taking samples and holding vehicles and tools. So the two work together: the inspector on the technical and supervisory side, and the Ministry of Interior on the security side.
Note that the Ministry of Interior's role in apprehending violators ends with referring them to the relevant authority. The Article does not name that authority; it refers to the prescribed legal procedures. If you have been caught in an environmental violation and want to know the consequences, you may wish to consult a lawyer who specializes in environmental law.
Practical example
During a security patrol in a desert area, a Ministry of Interior unit caught people cutting wild trees for firewood. The unit apprehends them and refers them to the relevant authority to take the prescribed legal procedures. And if an environmental inspector at another site needs security support to complete an inspection, he may request it from the Ministry.
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 37 of the Saudi Environment Law
What is the Ministry of Interior's role in enforcing the Environment Law?
In coordination with the competent authority, it carries out security monitoring of environmental compliance, apprehends violators and refers them to the relevant authority, and provides security support to inspectors on request.
Does the Ministry of Interior's role replace the environmental inspectors' role?
No. The Article provides that this is without prejudice to Article 36 on inspectors.
What happens after a violator is apprehended by the security authorities?
The violator is referred to the relevant authority to take the prescribed legal procedures.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Environmental Inspection and Violation Reports
- Article 36
The Article regulates environmental inspectors in detecting and proving violations, giving them powers to take samples, recover seized items and hold vehicles and tools, prohibits obstructing them, and allows some tasks to be assigned to specialized companies.
1- يتولى مفتشون -يصدر بتحديدهم قرار من الوزير أو رئيس مجلس إدارة الجهة المختصة (بحسب الأحوال)- مجتمعين أو منفردين ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام واللوائح، والتحقيق في
- Article 44
An activity may be suspended as a precaution for up to 15 days to avoid an environmental disaster, with referral of the violation within 5 days and a decision on continuing the suspension within 10 days.
للوزير أو رئيس مجلس إدارة الجهة المختصة (بحسب الأحوال) أو من يفوضانه اتخاذ إجراء احترازي -بعد التنسيق مع الجهة المشرفة- بإيقاف النشاط جزئيًّا أو كليًّا لمدة لا
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.