Arabic
Issued by the Board of Directors of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Decision D-2-D5/46 dated 16 December 2024
Article 1
These controls aim to regulate the operation of ecotourism activities in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in a manner that contributes to promoting ecotourism based on the Organisational Arrangements of the Council of Royal Reserves and the Royal Reserves Development Authorities issued by Council of Ministers Decision 437 dated 1 Rajab 1441 [25 February 2020].
Article 2
For the purposes of applying these controls, the following words and phrases—wherever they occur—have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
Controls: The Controls for Tourist Activities.
Reserve: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.
Authority: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.
Chief executive officer: The chief executive officer of the authority.
Competent entity: The Ministry of Tourism; the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture; or any other government entity authorized by law to issue licenses.
Permit: A document granted by the authority to practice an activity or provide a service in the field of ecotourism by virtue of these controls.
Environmental impact: A change that the tourism activity brings about on the environment, whether positive or negative.
Environmental initiative: A measure or action submitted by the permit applicant after an environmental impact study that contributes to bringing about a positive change in the environment.
Tourism activity: An activity carried out by persons within the scope of the reserve as part of a group of activities approved by the authority.
Article 3
The scope of application of these controls is within the locations specified for each activity according to the permit.
Article 4
The authority shall grant a permit to operate tourism activities within the locations specified by the authority, with the approval of the chief executive officer—or whoever he authorizes—in accordance with the following conditions:
1․ Submitting a permit application through the official website of the authority.
2․ The permit applicant shall attach the following requirements:
(a) A valid tourism license issued by the competent entity within the kingdom.
(b) All necessary licenses from the competent entity for the targeted activity.
(c) Providing an overview of the targeted tourism activity.
(d) Providing evidence of expertise and past work in the same field.
(e) The presence of an environmental permit from the National Center for Environmental Compliance to assess and classify the activity based on the Executive Regulation for Environmental Permits for Establishing and Operating Activities.
(f) Submitting an implementation plan for the targeted activity in accordance with these controls, which must include: Stages of implementation, a timetable, a visitor registration system, a comprehensive plan to deal with risks, and a project completion plan.
(g) Attaching the commercial registration.
(h) Any additional documents requested by the authority.
3․ The duration of a permit is 6 (six) months, subject to renewal in accordance with the following conditions:
(a) Submitting a permit renewal application.
(b) Providing comprehensive statistics on visitors and activities provided.
(c) There must be no more than 3 (three) official warnings from the authority.
4․ A permit applicant shall comply with the environmental initiative as determined by the authority, as well as its implementation mechanism according to the type of activity and based on the outputs of the submitted environmental impact assessment study.
5․ The authority shall review the application and notify the permit applicant of the status of the application within 30 (thirty) working days from the date of receipt.
6․ The authority may refuse to issue or renew any permit application submitted to it after reviewing the application, and shall explain the reasons for the refusal.
Article 5
The permittee shall comply with the following requirements:
1․ Providing services according to the approved tourism activity.
2․ Adhering to the geographical scope specified in the permit issued by the authority, and not encroaching on another area.
3․ Adhering to the specified timetable for the activity.
4․ A permittee or his representative or agent shall bear responsibility for the quality and type of activities provided, and for any damages that may be caused by them.
5․ Labour for tourist activities must include individuals from the local community.
6․ Responding to the inquiries of the authority prior to, during, and after the permit period.
7․ Submitting all tourism data and statistics to the authority related to the permitted tourism activity during the permit period after the activity ends.
8․ That workers comply with maintaining personal hygiene and good appearance.
9․ Preserving the safety and cleanliness of the facilities and means of the tourism activity, maintaining them periodically, and ensuring that they are free of any fault or defects that affect their use or overall appearance.
10․ Not causing any harm to the reserve and adhering to the security, technical, health, environmental, safety methods, first aid, evacuation, and other instructions issued by the relevant entities, as well as exercising the necessary care in this regard.
11․ Not using the name of the authority in any advertisement or marketing activity, except after obtaining its approval.
12․ Not doing anything that would harm or impact the reputation of tourism in the Kingdom or the reputation, prestige, or importance of the authority.
13․ Appointing a communication officer to receive inquiries and complaints and share them with the authority.
14․ Conducting a trial run of the activity before the official launch, and preparing a detailed report on it and submitting it to the authority.
15․ Promptly responding to complaints and comments received from visitors and addressing them immediately.
16․ The permittee shall comply with the applicable relevant laws and regulations.
Article 6
1․ The authority issues permits for the following tourism activities:
– Cultural tour
– Trekking
– Horse riding activities
– Open-air cinema
– Cycling activities
– Yoga
– Bird watching
– Camel trips
– Microlights
– Paragliding
– Hot air balloon ride
– Sand dune sports
– Archery
– Photography
– Zipline
– Safari
– Exhibitions and museums
– Rock climbing
– High mountain climbing adventure
– Stargazing
– Camping and caravans
2․ In the event that an application is submitted to obtain a tourist activity permit not included in paragraph 1, it must be reviewed and a response must be given within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the application.
3․ If a permit application is not included in paragraph 1 and it relates to an activity subject to an environmental impact assessment, it must be reviewed in coordination with the National Center for Environmental Compliance Control and a response must be given within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the application.
Article 7
The licensee shall preserve the environment as follows:
1․ Providing recycling containers for each activity, sorting waste, and then transporting it for disposal outside the reserve in cooperation with licensed entities.
2․ Lighting used must be energy-saving LED bulbs according to the following standards:
| Location |
Lighting Level |
Color Temperature |
| Tracks |
5-10 lux |
2700K-3000K |
| Location of Activity |
10-20 lux |
2700K-3000K |
3․ When using plants and trees for agriculture or decoration, they must be from the environment of the reserve without introducing alien plant species.
4․ Lighting fires in the designated places as determined by the authority.
5․ Driving vehicles on designated roads and not creating new roads.
6․ Not cutting or tampering with trees and plants.
7․ Not using local firewood and charcoal.
8․ Not approaching, pursuing, or hunting wildlife.
9․ Not causing damage or tampering with historical monuments.
Article 8
The permittee shall comply with the security and safety requirements, as follows:
1․ Verifying that the necessary licenses for food and beverage suppliers are valid.
2․ Appointing a person/persons to perform the following roles according to the nature of the tourism activity:
(a) An activity manager present on site throughout its operation.
(b) A health and safety management specialist.
(c) A security guard specialist/specialists to protect the site during the period of operation.
3․ Preparing the site in accordance with the implementation plan submitted by the permittee and approved by the authority to ensure the presence of the work team before allowing visitors to enter.
4․ Setting safety requirements for activities, interactive segments, and others, and placing them in a place that is clear to visitors.
5․ The number of visitors must not exceed the maximum capacity specified in the operational plan submitted by the permit applicant.
6․ The presence of a technical team specialized in maintenance work, such as: Electricity, air conditioning, and other tasks to repair emergency work.
7․ The authority may suspend or cancel the permit if the permittee violates these controls, and he is liable for the damages resulting from this.
Article 9
1․ The authority shall update these controls or make exceptions to their provisions—when necessary—with the approval of the chief executive officer and notification of the board of directors of the authority.
2․ The chief executive officer shall set and approve a mechanism for implementing these controls.
Article 10
These controls must apply and come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5064 issued on 10 January 2025.
