Issued by Council of Ministers Decision 296
Chapter
One Definitions
Article 1
The following terms and phrases—wherever they appear in this system—have the meanings assigned to them, unless the context requires otherwise:
Authority: The National Emergency Management Authority.
System: The system of the authority.
Board: The board of directors of the authority.
Governor: The governor of the authority.
Centers: The centers affiliated with the authority that carry out some of its mandates and responsibilities.
Critical infrastructure: Essential assets, properties, systems, networks, and services for which the disruption, stoppage, damage, or obstruction of access causes harm to public health and safety, security, public order, the economy, the environment, or social life.
Strategic reserve: Strategic goods and resources (essential resources) kept in storage and the like, for the purpose of avoiding their depletion in the event of an emergency.
Business continuity: The ability of an entity to continue performing its work and providing its basic services within an acceptable and predetermined level and timeframe when the work of the entity is interrupted, disrupted, or stopped.
Chapter Two
The Authority, Its Legal Status, and Its Mandates
Article 2
1․ The authority enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is legally affiliated with the Prime Minister.
2․ The headquarters of the authority must be in the City of Riyadh. It may establish branches and offices inside or outside the Kingdom by a decision of the board.
Article 3
The authority is the competent authority and the main authority in the Kingdom regarding emergency management affairs. It shall aim to coordinate the roles and responsibilities of the relevant entities, and enhance their capabilities to reduce risks and impacts of emergencies through planning, monitoring, preparedness, and response, in a manner that ensures business continuity, supply chains, and the sustainability of providing critical infrastructure for their services. This does not relieve any public, private, or other entity of its responsibility for emergency affairs and business continuity, in a manner that does not conflict with the mandates and responsibilities of the authority provided in the system.
Article 4
The authority—without prejudice to its mandates stipulated in the Emergency Law, and without prejudice to the mandates and responsibilities of the relevant entities—shall carry out all that is necessary to achieve its objectives, and it may perform the following in particular:
1․ Preparing the Emergency Management National Strategy, supervising its implementation after its approval, evaluating its implementation, and proposing any amendment or improvement to it.
2․ Managing emergencies by coordinating the roles and responsibilities of the relevant entities in accordance with the provisions of the system.
3․ Proposing draft laws, systems and regulations related to its mandates, as well as conducting a periodic review of the laws and regulations related to its work to determine their adequacy and work on developing them.
4․ Proposing strategies, policies, plans, programs, methodologies, standards, controls, guidelines, performance measurement indicators and tools, and reports related to emergencies and business continuity, in coordination with the relevant entities. This includes classifying emergency levels and approving them in accordance with established procedures.
5․ Preparing national frameworks and guidance manuals related to emergencies and business continuity, following up on compliance with them, and updating them.
6․ Preparing executive programs and policies related to training and drills to implement the contents of the plans in coordination with the relevant entities, periodically, in accordance with the provisions of the system.
7․ Preparing a register of critical infrastructure and identifying and classifying it, in coordination with the relevant entities.
8․ Preparing a national strategy for strategic reserve, supervising its implementation after its approval, evaluating its implementation, and proposing any amendment or improvement to it.
9․ Preparing the necessary national policies, frameworks, and plans to sustain supply chains in a way that ensures business continuity when emergencies occur.
10․ Promoting and spreading the culture of reducing the risks of emergencies, supply chain disruptions, and the mechanism to deal with them at all stages, as well as ensuring business continuity in accordance with the provisions of the system.
11․ Creating comprehensive and integrated technical systems for early warning, developing them periodically, and linking the relevant authorities to them.
12․ Preparing rules and policies for establishing or designating public or private refuges and shelters, and determining their specifications, standards, and the mechanism for managing and supervising them.
13․ Strengthening national capacities specialized in emergency management and business continuity, and participating in preparing educational and training programs related to them in accordance with the provisions of the system.
14․ Preparing rules and policies in coordination with the relevant entities to unify the media message when an emergency occurs in all visual and audio media means, printing and publishing houses, and other media and advertising outlets.
15․ Receiving periodic reports and statistics from the entities concerned with emergency management, studying them, preparing analytical data on them, and taking the necessary action in regard to them.
16․ Internationally cooperating with states and regional and international bodies and organizations, and representing the Kingdom in international conferences and forums related to the mandates of the authority.
Article 5
In order to achieve the objectives for which it is established and to carry out its mandates and tasks, without prejudice to the mandates of other government entities, the authority shall take all necessary means to achieve them, including the following:
1․ Proposing to establish centers. The determination of their legal affiliation and financial status, the means of implementing their mandates, and the mechanism for implementing the tasks assigned to them by the authority must be determined by a decision of the board.
2․ Establishing databases for data, information, and statistics related to the objectives and mandates of the authority, as well as classifying them and analyzing them.
3․ Linking the centers and chambers concerned with managing emergency, crisis, or disaster operations at the relevant entities with the National Emergency Operations Center at the authority.
4․ Conducting a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of national risks, in coordination with the relevant entities, and reporting on required matters to the board to take the action it deems necessary.
5․ Utilizing distinguished national cadres and capabilities in the fields of work of the authority.
6․ Collecting the fee set to the authority and its centers for any work or service provided in accordance with the system.
7․ Conducting research and studies related to risks and emergencies, and predicting their occurrence and the mechanism to deal with them.
8․ Organizing and holding workshops, seminars, conferences, and training courses in the fields of risk, emergency management, and business continuity, in accordance with established procedures.
9․ Proposing the allocation of the necessary resources to reduce the impacts resulting from emergencies to implement plans and projects from the budgets of the relevant entities after coordination with them.
Chapter Three
The Board of Directors of the Authority and Its Mandates
Article 6
1․ The authority must have a board of directors chaired by the Prime Minister, and the membership of each of:
– The Minister of Energy—Member.
– The Minister of Interior—Member.
– The Minister of the National Guard—Member.
– The Minister of Foreign Affairs—Member.
– The National Security Adviser—Member.
– The Minister of Health—Member.
– The Minister of Commerce—Member.
– The Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture—Member.
– The Minister of Finance—Member.
– The Minister of Information—Member.
– The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources—Member.
– The Minister of Communications and Information Technology—Member.
– The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services—Member.
– The Head of State Security—Member.
– The Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority—Member.
– The Governor of the National Emergency Management Authority—Member.
– Any other member appointed by an order issued by the Prime Minister.
2․ The chairman of the board may delegate whomever he deems appropriate from the members to chair the board in the event of his absence.
3․ The board shall appoint a secretary from among the personnel of the authority, chosen by the chairman based on a nomination by the governor. He shall assume the secretariat of the board, prepare for meetings, record minutes, deliberations, and decisions, and carry out any other task assigned to him.
Article 7
The board is the supreme authority in control of the authority, and is responsible for managing its affairs and supervising it and the exercise of its activities and mandate. It may take the necessary decisions, procedures, and measures to achieve the objectives for which the authority was established, and it has the following powers and mandates in particular:
1․ Approving the National Emergency Management Strategy and submitting it to complete the necessary legal procedures for its approval.
2․ Developing, updating, and defining the roles and responsibilities of government entities and relevant entities through one or more regulations, and reporting on the legal procedures required to be taken for approval.
3․ Proposing the laws, systems, decisions, and strategies related to the mandates of the authority, and reporting on any legal procedures required to be taken.
4․ Approving national plans and frameworks, policies, programs, methodologies, standards, controls, guidelines, manuals, indicators, measurement tools, and reports related to emergencies and business continuity, in coordination with the relevant entities, including identifying and classifying emergency levels, and reporting on the required legal procedures for their approval.
5․ Approving executive programs and policies related to training and drills to implement the contents of the plans.
6․ Approving the National Strategic Reserve Strategy, and submitting it according to the legal procedures.
7․ Approving the rules and policies necessary to establish or identify public or private refuges and shelters, and reporting on any required legal procedures.
8․ Approving the rules and policies necessary to unify the media message when an emergency occurs.
9․ Forming committees or fieldwork teams from any government entities in the regions or governorates of the Kingdom, and entrusting them with any work related to the nature of the work of the authority. The decision to form them must specify their chairman, members, secretary, mandates, legal affiliation, remuneration of members, rules of work, and the mechanism for making their decisions and recommendations.
10․ Approving the fee received by the authority and the centers for the services, works, activities, and consultations they provide.
11․ Issuing decisions and approving the regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the system, in a manner that achieves the objectives and mandates of the authority.
12․ Approving the organizational structure of the authority and the centers, and their related manuals.
13․ Approving the establishment of centers and the establishment of branches and offices in accordance with the provisions of the system.
14․ Approving the administrative, financial, and technical regulations, the authority matrix table, the salary scales for the employees, experts, consultants, and collaborators of the authority, and the compensation of those the authority enlists.
15․ Appointing the internal financial controller for the authority and the centers.
16․ Approving the signing of agreements, protocols, and contracts, and submitting them in accordance with established legal procedures.
17․ Approving the draft annual budget of the authority, its final account, the accounts auditor report, and the annual report, and submitting them to complete the legal procedures, as well as reviewing the periodic reports submitted by the authority and the progress of its work.
18․ Accepting gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and awqaf, in accordance with the relevant laws.
19․ Tasks assigned to it by virtue of orders, laws, or decisions of the Council of Ministers.
20․ Forming committees—standing or temporary—from its members or others, to which it entrusts whatever tasks it deems appropriate. The decision to form each committee must specify its chairman, members, secretary, and mandates. It may also enlist whomever it deems appropriate to carry out the tasks entrusted to it, unless the board decides otherwise.
The board may—also—delegate some of its mandates to its chairman or to any of its members or personnel of the authority.
Article 8
1․ The board shall meet once every six months, or whenever necessary, as determined by the chairman of the board.
2․ The meeting is only valid if attended by a majority of the members—at least—including the chairman of the board. Decisions must be issued by a majority of the votes of those in attendance—at least—and in the event of a tie, the side with which the chairman of the board voted prevails.
3․ The board may invite to attend its meetings whoever it deems to have expertise and knowledge in the field of work of the authority, without having the right to vote on the decisions of the board.
4․ The board may hold meetings and vote on them remotely through the use of technological communication means, and the board may—when necessary—issue its decisions by circulation.
Chapter Four
The Authority and Its Administrative Agencies
Article 9
The authority must have a governor with the rank of minister and a deputy with the excellent rank, and the governor and his deputy must be appointed based on a proposal from the chairman of the board. The governor is responsible for managing the authority, conducting its business, and supervising the work of the centers. His responsibilities and powers must be within the limits stipulated in the regulations and decided by the board, and he may exercise the following powers in particular:
1․ Preparing the Emergency Management National Strategy, supervising its implementation after its approval, evaluating its implementation, and proposing any amendment or improvement to it.
2․ Supervising the preparation of draft laws, systems, and regulations related to the mandate of the authority, and conducting a periodic review of them to determine their adequacy and work on developing and updating them, in accordance with the established legal procedures, as well as submitting them to the board for consideration.
3․ Supervising the preparation of national frameworks and plans, strategies, policies, programs, methodologies, standards, controls, guidelines, manuals, performance measurement indicators and tools, and reports related to emergencies and business continuity, in coordination with the relevant entities. This includes supervising the identification and classification of emergency levels.
4․ Supervising the preparation of training and drill programs and policies to implement the provisions of the plans, in coordination with the relevant entities, and submitting them to the board for approval.
5․ Preparing a register of critical infrastructure and identifying and classifying it, in coordination with the relevant entities.
6․ Supervising the preparation of the National Strategic Reserve Strategy, supervising its implementation after its approval, evaluating it, and proposing updates to it.
7․ Supervising the preparation of the rules and policies necessary to establish or designate public or private refuges and shelters, determining their specifications and standards, and the mechanism for their management and supervision, and submitting them to the board for consideration and approval.
8․ Recommending the declaration of a state of emergency in coordination with the relevant entities, detailing its grounds, impact, and geographical scope, in accordance with the rules approved by the board.
9․ Issuing the necessary decisions to activate national emergency plans in accordance with the rules and policies decided by the board.
10․ Supervising the preparation of the organizational structure of the authority, its administrative, financial, and technical regulations, the salary scales for the personnel, experts, consultants, and collaborators of the authority, the compensation of those the authority enlists, and the regulations necessary to manage its work, and submitting them to the board for approval.
11․ Disbursing from the approved budget, and taking all financial measures in accordance with the approved laws and regulations, and the powers authorized for him by the board.
12․ Supervising the preparation of the draft budget of the authority, its annual report, and the draft final account, and submitting them to the board.
13․ Signing agreements, protocols, and contracts, after the approval of the board, in accordance with the laws and instructions.
14․ Enlisting specialized experts, consultants, and collaborators that the authority needs, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
15․ Contracting with human cadres to work in the authority, in accordance with the organizational structure and internal regulations approved by the board.
16․ Contracting to perform works, services, and others, in accordance with the laws and powers authorized for him by the board.
17․ Representing the authority before the judiciary, government entities, and other institutions and establishments that relate to the mandate of the authority, and other entities inside or outside the Kingdom, in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.
18․ Following up on the implementation of the decisions issued by the board, the decisions related to the work of the authority, or matters specified in the authorities matrix table.
Article 10
1․ The centers must include the National Emergency Operations Center and the Center for Excellence and Capacity Development. The two centers enjoy financial independence and are affiliated with the authority.
2․ The National Emergency Operations Center aims to monitor emergencies, respond to them when they occur, and recover from them by coordinating the roles and responsibilities of the relevant entities. The board shall determine the necessary mandates of the center.
3․ The Center for Excellence and Capacity Development aims to enhance and spread the culture of reducing emergency risks, supply chain disruptions, and the mechanism to deal with them at all stages, and ensuring business continuity. This includes qualifying experts and specialists. The board shall determine the necessary mandates of the center.
Chapter Five
The Relationship of the Authority with Other Entities
Article 11
All relevant entities shall cooperate with the authority in its field of work—regarding any inquiry, procedure, or request—to achieve its objectives, and the authority may in order to achieve this perform the following:
1․ Requesting a copy of documents, data, and information relating to its work.
2․ Enabling the personnel of the authority and its centers to perform their duties, and providing them with the data or information they request related to their work.
3․ Responding to its inquiries and observations, and informing it of updates done regarding them, as requested.
Chapter Six
The Budget of the Authority and Its Financial Resources
Article 12
The personnel of the authority—except for the governor and his deputy—are subject to the provisions of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law.
Article 13
1․ The authority must have an independent budget, the amounts of which are deposited in a special account in the name of the authority at the Saudi Central Bank, and disbursement from it must be in accordance with the financial regulations of the authority.
2․ The fiscal year of the authority is the fiscal year of the state. As an exception to this, the first fiscal year begins from the date of entry into force of the system and ends at the end of the next state fiscal year.
Article 14
The financial resources of the authority consist of the following:
1․ The financial appropriations allocated to it in the general budget of the state.
2․ Gifts, donations, aid, grants, bequests, and awqaf revenues, in accordance with the relevant laws.
3․ The fee received by the authority and its centers for the services, works, activities, and consultations they provide.
4․ Any other resource approved by the board in a manner that does not violate the laws and instructions.
Article 15
1․ All revenues of the authority must be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance in the Saudi Central Bank.
2․ The authority shall open an account in the Saudi Central Bank, and it may open other accounts in any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Disbursements from these accounts must be made in accordance with the budget of the authority.
Article 16
The governor shall submit reports to the board, as follows:
1․ An annual report within 90 days at most from the end of the fiscal year, which includes the following:
(a) The accomplishments and achievements of the authority during the previous year, the difficulties it faced, and the proposals it determines.
(b) A comprehensive evaluation of the emergency management system in the Kingdom during the year of the report.
2․ Reports—as needed—on specific topics that the authority deems important to submit.
Article 17
Without prejudice to the mandates of the General Bureau for Auditing, the board shall appoint one or more external account auditors licensed to operate in the Kingdom to audit the accounts of the authority and its transactions, statements, annual budget, and final account, and the board shall determine their fees. The report of the accounts auditor must be submitted to the board, and a copy of it must be provided to the General Bureau for Auditing after its approval by the board.
Chapter Seven
General Provisions
Article 18
The authority shall exercise its powers in the event of war or during the declaration of a state of emergency under the supervision of the Emergency Supreme Council.
Article 19
The system must be published in the official gazette, comes into force from the date of its publication, and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5070 issued on 14 February 2025.
