Author: Decree

Arabic

The Council of Ministers,

after perusal of Royal Court File 46827 dated 9 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [30 November 2025], which includes Saudi Data and AI Authority Telegram 4745 dated 6 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [27 November 2025], requesting approval to name the year 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence”,

after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 2516 dated 16 Rajab 1447 [5 January 2026],

after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Recommendation 24-32/47/I dated 10 Sha’ban 1447 [29 January 2026],

and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 9739 dated 9 Ramadan 1447 [26 February 2026],

hereby decides

The naming of the year 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence” is hereby approved.

The Prime Minister

Issued on: 21 Ramadan 1447
Corresponding to: 10 March 2026

Published in Umm Al-Qura 5150 issued on 19 March 2026.

Arabic

The Council of Ministers,

after perusal of Royal Court File 49640 dated 18 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [9 December 2025], which includes the Minister of Interior Telegram 299645 dated 5 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1444 [25 May 2023], and the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification Telegram 157334 dated 1 Rajab 1444 [23 January 2023], regarding certain legal aspects related to mining and logging,

after perusal of the Mineral Investment Law issued by Royal Decree D/140 dated 19 Shawwal 1441 [11 June 2020],

after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 881 dated 16 Rabi Al-Awwal 1445 [1 October 2023], Memo 258 dated 13 Muharram 1446 [19 July 2024], Memo 2371 dated 5 Rajab 1446 [5 January 2025], Memo 3465 dated 23 Shawwal 1446 [21 April 2025], Memo 312 dated 26 Muharram 1447 [21 July 2025], Memo 1870 dated 21 Jumada Al-Awwal 1447 [12 November 2025], and Memo 3114 dated 6 Ramadan 1447 [23 February 2026],

after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Recommendation 21-47/4/R dated 3 Rabi Al-Thani 1447 [25 September 2025],

after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Minutes 1417/47/M dated 19 Ramadan 1447 [8 March 2026],

after considering Shura Council Decision 151/12 dated 17 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [8 December 2025],

and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 10097 dated 20 Ramadan 1447 [9 March 2026],

hereby decides

First

Article 27 of the Mineral Investment Law issued by Royal Decree D/140 dated 19 Shawwal 1441 [11 June 2020] is hereby amended to read as follows:

1․ The competent representatives of the ministry must have the capacity of administrative enforcement, and they may enter the sites of mining licenses in accordance with the law, for the purposes of inspection, supervision, the control of violations, and ensuring that the licensee complies with the provisions of the law, the regulations, and the conditions of the license. The licensee shall cooperate with the representatives of the ministry in a manner that enables them to perform their tasks to the fullest extent possible.

2․ The competent representatives of the ministry—referred to in paragraph 1 of this article—and public authority officers from ministries, other government agencies, and security entities—who carry out activities in accordance with their respective laws to police violations or related offenses—have the status of criminal investigation officers when they discover any of the offenses stipulated in article 56bis of the law during their field inspections within the scope of their territorial jurisdiction. They may also receive reports in order to police such offenses.

3․ The Ministry of Interior shall provide security support for the detection of the offenses referred to in this article upon a request from any of the entities referred to in paragraph 2 of this article.

4․ The criminal investigation officers referred to in this article may seize records, documents, tools, equipment, and other items related to the crime, at the expense of the perpetrator, and the investigating officer shall take the necessary legal action in this regard.

Second

The amendment—referred to in clause First—comes into force after the lapse of 180 days from the date of its publication in the official gazette.

A draft royal decree has been prepared in the form attached.

Third

Within a period not exceeding 120 days from the date of this decision, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the other ministries and government agencies referred to in article 27(2) of the Mineral Investment Law, shall establish a coordination mechanism and a procedural guide to ensure the proper application of the procedures relating to the policing of the offenses stipulated in article 56bis of the Mineral Investment Law and to achieve the integration of their respective roles. This mechanism must include the classification of such offenses, the identification of the necessary modern technologies to assist in their policing, the development of templates for police reports, and the completion of the necessary procedures in this regard, including the manner in which reports are received from whistleblowers, public authority officers, and security entities—referred to in article 27(2) of the law—and the mechanism for processing such reports. However, if certain entities express a view with which the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources does not agree, the entity or ministry in question may–after half of that period has elapsed—submit to His Majesty its view, the reasons for it, and appropriate proposals in this regard.

Fourth

The Ministry of Interior (Special Forces for Environmental Security) and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources shall determine their needs in order to support them with the capabilities, mechanisms and personnel required to carry out their tasks stipulated in article 27 of the law, including the provision of premises for these forces, technical development related to the detection and control of crimes, and the establishment of appropriate mechanisms for this purpose. The determination of these needs must encompass matters related to the control and prevention of illegal logging practices and other environmental violations, including the establishment of a force base in the Governorate of Wadi Al-Dawasir. The financial requirements must be discussed in accordance with the rules for preparing the general budget of the state and the instructions issued in this regard.

Fifth

After coordinating with the entities referred to in article 27(2) of the Mineral Investment Law, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources shall, two years after the date of entry into force of the amendment referred to in clause First, prepare a report containing an assessment of the results, challenges, and difficulties encountered by the ministry and those entities, as well as appropriate proposals in this regard, and shall submit the report to the Prime Minister for the necessary action to be taken.

The Prime Minister

Issued on: 21 Ramadan 1447
Corresponding to: 10 March 2026

Published in Umm Al-Qura 5151 issued on 30 March 2026.

Arabic

The Council of Ministers,

after perusal of Royal Court File 66409 dated 20 Sha’ban 1447 [8 February 2026], regarding the appointment of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund for Martyrs, Wounded, Prisoners of War, and Missing in Action,

after perusal of the Statute of the Fund for Martyrs, Wounded, Prisoners of War, and Missing in Action issued by Council of Ministers Decision 366 dated 14 Sha’ban 1436 [1 June 2015],

after perusal of Council of Ministers Decision 119 dated 2 Safar 1446 [6 August 2024],

and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 10041 dated 19 Ramadan 1447 [8 March 2026],

hereby decides

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Minister of Defense, is hereby appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund for Martyrs, Wounded, Prisoners of War, and Missing in Action.

The Prime Minister

Issued on: 21 Ramadan 1447
Corresponding to: 10 March 2026

Published in Umm Al-Qura 5151 issued on 30 March 2026.

Arabic

The Council of Ministers,

after perusal of Royal Court File 85052 dated 26 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1445 [3 June 2024], which includes Minister of Economy and Planning Telegram 4505271 dated 19 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1445 [27 May 2024], regarding his request to approve the inclusion of a representative of the ministry on the boards of directors of a number of government entities,

after perusal of the Statute of the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission issued by Council of Ministers Decision 74 dated 5 Rabi Al-Awwal 1422 [28 May 2001],

after perusal of the Statute of the General Authority for Military Industries issued by Council of Ministers Decision 210 dated 25 Rabi Al-Thani 1440 [1 January 2019],

after perusal of the Statute of the National Center for Non-Profit Sector issued by Council of Ministers Decision 618 dated 20 Shawwal 1442 [1 June 2021],

after perusal of Royal Order 91799 dated 13 Dhu Al-Hijja 1446 [9 June 2025],

after perusal of Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers Memo 603 dated 17 Safar 1446 [21 August 2024], Memo 669 dated 16 Safar 1447 [10 August 2025], Memo 1831 dated 19 Jumada Al-Awwal 1447 [10 November 2025], and Memo 3252 dated 16 Ramadan 1447 [5 March 2026],

after perusal of Council of Economic and Development Affairs Recommendation 11-11/47/I dated 12 Rabi Al-Awwal 1447 [4 September 2025] and Minutes 965/47/M dated 13 Jumada Al-Thani 1447 [4 December 2025],

and after perusal of General Committee of the Council of Ministers Recommendation 10042 dated 19 Ramadan 1447 [8 March 2026],

hereby decides

First

1․ Article 4 of the Statute of the General Authority for Military Industries issued by Council of Ministers Decision 210 dated 25 Rabi Al-Thani 1440 [1 January 2019] is hereby amended by adding a representative of the Ministry of Economy and Planning to the membership of the Board of Directors of the authority and by amending the number of members with expertise in the field of work of the authority, so that the article reads as follows:

(a） The authority must have a board of directors whose chairman is appointed by a decision by the Council of Ministers, and which includes the membership of the following:

1․ The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources.

2․ The Minister of Finance.

3․ The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries.

4․ The Deputy Minister of Defense.

5․ Representatives from the Ministry of Defense.

6․ A representative from the Ministry of Interior. 7. A representative from the Ministry of the National Guard.

8․ A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

9․ A representative from the Presidency of State Security.

10․ Three persons with expertise in the field of work of the authority, appointed by an order of the prime minister based on a proposal by the chairman of the board. Their membership is for a period of three years, renewable once.

(b） The rank of the representatives of the government agencies referred to in paragraph (a)(5), (6), (7), (8), and (9) of this article must not be less than the excellent rank or its equivalent.

(c） The chairman of the board shall select a deputy from among the members stipulated in paragraph (a)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this article.

2․ The current Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Military Industries shall continue in office until a chairman of the board is appointed in accordance with the amendment referred to in paragraph 1 of this clause, and the members of the board with expertise in the field of work of the authority, appointed by Royal Order 91799 dated 13 Dhu Al-Hijja 1446 [9 June 2025], shall continue in office until the end of their term, as stipulated in the mentioned order.

Second

Article 4 of the Statute of the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission issued by Council of Ministers Decision 74 dated 5 Rabi Al-Awwal 1422 [28 May 2001] is hereby amended by adding a paragraph numbered (d) to it with the following text: “(d) A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning,” and the paragraphs of the article are reordered accordingly.

Third

Article 5 of the Statute of the National Center for Non-Profit Sector issued by Council of Ministers Decision 618 dated 20 Shawwal 1442 [1 June 2021] is hereby amended by adding a paragraph numbered 5 to clause First of the article, with the following text: “5. A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.” The paragraphs of clause First and the paragraphs referred to in clause Third of the article are reordered accordingly.

The Prime Minister

Issued on: 21 Ramadan 1447
Corresponding to: 10 March 2026

Published in Umm Al-Qura 5151 issued on 30 March 2026.