Saudi Arabia
Asia · Western Asia
Saudi Arabia has no statute that names 'spearfishing' explicitly, but underwater fishing is governed and heavily restricted by the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Royal Decree No. M/9 of 1408 AH / 1987) and its Executive Regulation (Ministerial Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH). Diving and fishing both require a licence issued by the competent Ministry (today the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, MEWA) plus security approval from the Ministry of Interior / Border Forces. A licensed diver may not exploit living aquatic resources or extract coral except with prior Ministry approval (Article 81), solo diving is forbidden (Article 82), and divers must use only open-circuit self-contained gear (Article 83). Recreational 'hikers'/picnickers may fish only by rod and hook (Articles 6 and 70). Spearfishing while on scuba is reported in the press as illegal in practice and offenders can be handed to the coast guard, and spearguns are frequently confiscated at airports. The net effect is that recreational speargun/pole-spear fishing is at best a restricted activity requiring permits and is in practice prohibited in the most common (scuba, unlicensed) forms; freediving with a pole spear is sometimes tolerated locally but has no clear legal authorisation. Fishing is outright banned in protected areas, ports and sea lanes, and near petroleum, industrial and military facilities (Article 73).
Senast uppdaterad juni 15, 2026
Styrande regelverk
- §Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Royal Decree No. M/9 dated 27/3/1408 AH (1987), approving Council of Ministers Resolution No. 14 dated 21/1/1408 AH
- §The Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters, Ministerial Resolution No. 21911 dated 27/3/1409 AH
- Licens krävs
- Krävs
- Dyk med tub
- Förbjudet
Lagen, ordagrant
Lagtexter
De exakta författnings- och regleringsbestämmelser som styr harpunfiske här, citerade som de publicerats, med en länk till varje officiell källa.
Diving licence required
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Without prejudice to the requirements of other regulations and instructions, every citizen and resident has the right to practice diving in the territorial waters of the Kingdom after obtaining a valid diving license issued by this competent Ministry and after obtaining the approval of the Security Authority at the Ministry of Interior.
Diver may not exploit living aquatic resources or extract coral without approval; dive flag required
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
The diver must determine his diving area by using the flag (alfa) to ensure safety measures. He may not extract coral reefs or exploit Living aquatic Resources except after approval of the Ministry.
Solo diving forbidden; entry/exit only via Border Forces centres
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
It is forbidden to practice diving lonely. The diver must not enter or exit the sea except through border forces centers and in accordance with article 12 of the border security law and under the supervision of border forces men.
Only open-circuit self-contained diving devices permitted
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Divers who have a diving license from the Ministry must use only self-contained diving devices and also not use closed-circuit diving equipment.
Night diving and underwater photography require approval
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Night diving or underwater photography is not permitted without the approval of the ministry and the border forces.
Recreational hikers/picnickers may fish only by rod and hook
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Hikers of all categories are permitted to fish living aquatic by rod and hook only and not to use any fishing nets of all kinds, traps or materials and means permitted or prohibited for artisanal fishermen.
Fishing by hikers prohibited except by fishing rod
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Fishing is prohibited by all equipment for hikers, except for the fishing rod only.
Use of any tool or equipment not listed requires Ministry approval
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
It is not permitted to use any fishing nets, tools or equipment not mentioned in this article without the approval of the ministry.
Places where fishing is prohibited
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Fishing is prohibited in the following places: 1- Protected areas. 2- Testing sites. 3- Ports and Sea lanes. 4- Close to the petroleum and industrial facilities. 5- Close to coastal military facilities and any other areas determined by the competent government agencies.
Fishing prohibited during reproduction periods set by the Ministry
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Fishing is prohibited during periods of living aquatic reproduction in the places and times specified by the ministry.
Protection of marine mammals and turtles
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
It is strictly forbidden to fishing maritime mammals (mermaids and dolphins) and turtles, collect their eggs, or trade in their meat and products, except for scientific purposes, provided that a license is obtained from the Ministry in coordination with the National Authority. Fishermen must return what is caught of these animals by accident to the sea.
Ornamental fish, corals and marine snails require licence
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
It is not permissible to catch or trade in ornamental fish, corals, and marine snails without obtaining a license from this relevant ministry.
Prohibited destructive fishing methods
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
Fishing is prohibited by equipment of genocide, electric shock, explosives, chemicals and toxic materials.
Diving licence validity (citizens and residents)
Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH)
The validity of the diving license for citizen and resident is one year.
När du får dyka
Säsonger & tidsbegränsningar
Fredningstider, öppna och begränsade perioder över året. Bekräfta alltid artspecifika fredningar lokalt.
- FredningstidAll living aquatic species during reproduction periods, at places and times designated by MEWAunknown – unknown
Article 66 of the Executive Regulation bans fishing during living-aquatic reproduction periods 'in the places and times specified by the ministry'. Specific dates are set administratively by MEWA per species/area (e.g. shrimp closed seasons) and are not fixed in the regulation itself.
Tillstånd att fiska
Licens
Vad du behöver för att få vara i vattnet, vad det kostar och hur du skaffar det.
Apply to a MEWA branch with: medical fitness certificate, ID/residence copy, a recognised diving certificate, photos and a signed liability undertaking (Article 88), plus security approval from the Ministry of Interior. Border Forces issue operating permits for diving/fishing equipment (Article 20).
Skaffa din licensÖppnar den officiella portalen · mewa.gov.sa
- Typ
- Diving licence (and, for taking fish, a fishing licence) issued by MEWA with Ministry of Interior / Border Forces security approval. There is no dedicated recreational 'spearfishing' licence.
- Kostnad
- unknown
- Giltighet
- Diving licence: 1 year (Article 76). Fishing (artisanal/investing) licence: 3 years (Article 17). Temporary diving licence available for research experts/visitors (Article 77).
- Hur du skaffar den
- Apply to a MEWA branch with: medical fitness certificate, ID/residence copy, a recognised diving certificate, photos and a signed liability undertaking (Article 88), plus security approval from the Ministry of Interior. Border Forces issue operating permits for diving/fishing equipment (Article 20).
- Myndighet
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), General Directorate of Fish Resources
Utrustning & teknik
Utrustningsregler
Vilken utrustning som är tillåten, hur den får användas och vilka villkor som gäller.
Restriktioner
- Spearfishing with scuba tanks is reported as illegal in practice (Arab News); spearguns are commonly confiscated by customs/airport authorities.
- Recreational 'hikers'/picnickers may fish only by rod and hook (Articles 6 and 70) - no spear, net or trap.
- A licensed diver may not exploit living aquatic resources or extract coral without prior Ministry approval (Article 81).
- Use of any tool or equipment not listed in the regulation requires Ministry approval (Article 71); spearguns/harpoons are not listed.
- Only open-circuit self-contained diving devices allowed; closed-circuit (rebreather) equipment forbidden (Article 83).
- Solo diving forbidden; entry/exit to the sea only via Border Forces centres under supervision (Article 82).
- Night diving and underwater photography require Ministry and Border Forces approval (Article 78).
The regulation does not name spearguns, harpoons or pole spears. Recreational underwater fishing therefore has no explicit legal authorisation: it is either prohibited (rod-and-hook-only rule for hikers, ban on taking resources while diving without approval) or, at most, requires special Ministry permits. Combined with reported scuba-spearfishing illegality and speargun confiscation at borders, recreational spearfishing should be treated as effectively not permitted / restricted.
Vad du får ta
Fångstbegränsningar & skyddade arter
Dagliga kvoter, minimimått och arter som aldrig får tas.
Daglig gräns
unknown
Skyddade arter — får inte tas
- SkyddadMarine mammals (dolphins, dugongs/'mermaids')
- SkyddadSea turtles (and their eggs)
- SkyddadCorals
- SkyddadMarine snails
- SkyddadOrnamental fish
Articles 61 and 62 strictly forbid taking or trading marine mammals, turtles and their eggs, corals, marine snails and ornamental fish without a special Ministry licence. No numeric daily bag or minimum-size limits for finfish are set in the Executive Regulation; net mesh-size minimums (Article 67) apply to nets, not spears. Species-specific limits may be set administratively by MEWA.
Vem som får fiska
Besökare & bofasta
Hur reglerna skiljer sig för utländska besökare och lokalt bofasta.
Utländska besökare
Särskild licens krävs
Krav
- Residents (with iqama) may obtain a 1-year diving licence on the same terms as citizens (Article 75), with Ministry of Interior security approval.
- Foreign research experts/visitors may obtain a temporary diving licence for the period required by their affiliated entity (Article 77).
- Professional fishing licences are restricted to Saudi nationals (Articles 13-14); foreigners may only work as licensed fishing workers under a Saudi sponsor (Articles 23, 30).
Restriktioner
- Spearguns are commonly confiscated from travellers at Saudi airports/customs.
- No recreational spearfishing permit exists for tourists; underwater taking of resources requires Ministry approval regardless of nationality (Article 81).
Tourists cannot simply spearfish. Residents can dive with a MEWA licence, but taking marine life by spear still falls under the Article 81 approval requirement and the rod-and-hook-only rule for recreational users. Commercial fishing is Saudi-nationals-only.
Bofasta
Diving licence (1-year), issued by MEWA with Ministry of Interior security approval; recreational take limited to rod and hook unless special Ministry approval is obtained.
Krav
- Hold valid residence (iqama).
- Medical fitness certificate, recognised diving certificate, photos and signed liability undertaking (Article 88).
- Ministry of Interior / Border Forces security approval (Article 75).
- At least 17 years old for a diving licence (Article 88).
Förmåner
- Residents are expressly granted the right to dive in territorial waters on the same one-year licence basis as citizens (Articles 75-76).
Residents have the same diving-licence pathway as citizens but, like everyone, may not exploit living aquatic resources by spear/harpoon while diving without prior Ministry approval (Article 81).
Var på kusten
Tillåtna & förbjudna zoner
Namngivna områden som är öppna för eller stängda för harpunfiske. Se hela bilden på den interaktiva kartan.
Förbjudna områden
- Farasan Islands Marine Reservemarine reserve / biosphere reserve
Marine protected area in the southeastern Red Sea, about 42 km off Jazan, covering roughly 6,800 sq km of coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves. Established 1989, supervised by the National Center for Wildlife; designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2021. Falls under the Article 73 ban on fishing in protected areas.
- All designated protected areasprotected area (general category)
Article 73(1) of the Executive Regulation prohibits all fishing within protected areas designated by the competent authorities (administered by the National Center for Wildlife). This necessarily prohibits spearfishing within them.
- Ports, sea lanes and areas near petroleum, industrial and military facilitiesmilitary zone / industrial exclusion zone / navigation
Article 73(3)-(5) prohibits fishing in ports and sea lanes, near petroleum and industrial facilities, near coastal military facilities, and any other areas determined by competent government agencies.
- Red Sea reefs near Jeddahcoastal reef area (enforcement reported)
Popular dive reefs within a few kilometres of Jeddah where spearfishing on scuba is reported as illegal and has degraded marine life; offenders can be reported to the coast guard. Not a formally gazetted reserve, but underwater fishing here is unlawful absent the required licences/approvals.
Förhållanden på vattnet
Liveförhållanden
Ögonblicksbild i realtid av marina förhållanden och väder nära en kustreferenspunkt i Saudi Arabia, från Open-Meteo. Förhållandena varierar längs kusten — betrakta som vägledande.
Marina förhållanden & väder i realtid nära Farasan Islands Marine Reserve.
Vem du ska fråga
Myndigheter
De officiella organ som ansvarar för fiske och licensiering.
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) - General Directorate of Fish Resources
fisheries / environment ministry
National Center for Wildlife (NCW)
protected areas / wildlife authority
ncw.gov.sahttps://www.ncw.gov.sa/en/Border Guard / Border Forces (Ministry of Interior)
maritime security / enforcement authority
moi.gov.saIssues equipment operating permits and security approvals; supervises sea entry/exit (Articles 20, 75, 82).
Var detta kommer från
Källor
Varje påstående på denna sida går att spåra tillbaka till en av dessa referenser.
- [01]
The Executive Regulation of the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH) - official MEWA English translation
Officiellmewa.gov.saHämtad jun 15 - [02]
Royal Decree No. M/9 of 1987 (1408 AH) issuing Cabinet Resolution No. 14 of 1987 approving the Act on Fishing, exploitation and protection of marine life in the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia - ECOLEX legislation record
Officiellecolex.orgHämtad jun 15 - [03]
Regulations on Fisheries in Saudi Arabia - FAOLEX (FAO) summary of fishing requirements, licences and gear
Officiellfaolex.fao.orgHämtad jun 15 - [04]
Farasan Islands Marine Reserve - Saudipedia
Sekundärsaudipedia.comHämtad jun 15 - [05]
Protected Areas - National Center for Wildlife (Saudi Arabia)
Officiellncw.gov.saHämtad jun 15 - [06]
Spear Fishing Degrading Local Marine Life - Arab News (scuba spearfishing illegal near Jeddah)
Sekundärarabnews.comHämtad jun 15 - [07]
Spearfishing By Scuba & Freedivers Impacting Saudi Marine Environment - DeeperBlue.com
communitydeeperblue.comHämtad jun 15
Forskaranteckningar
No Saudi statute uses the words 'spearfishing', 'speargun', 'harpoon' or 'pole spear'. The activity is governed indirectly by the 1987 Fishing Law (Royal Decree M/9) and its 1409 AH Executive Regulation (Resolution 21911), whose verbatim English text was obtained from the official MEWA Rules Library PDF (a guidance translation; the governing text is Arabic). Key constraints: diving requires a MEWA licence plus Interior/Border Forces security approval; a diver may not take living aquatic resources or coral without Ministry approval (Art. 81); recreational users may fish only by rod and hook (Arts. 6, 70); only listed gear is allowed and anything else needs approval (Art. 71); fishing is banned in protected areas, ports/sea lanes and near petroleum/industrial/military facilities (Art. 73). Press reporting (Arab News, DeeperBlue) states spearfishing on scuba is illegal in practice near Jeddah and that spearguns are routinely confiscated at airports; this is consistent with the regulation but is secondary/community-sourced, not a verbatim legal text. Confidence is 'medium' rather than 'high' because: (a) the controlling text is Arabic and only an official English guidance translation was read; (b) the law never names spearfishing explicitly, so the 'restricted/effectively prohibited' classification is an interpretation of the diving and gear provisions plus press reporting; (c) specific recreational catch limits, costs and per-species closed-season dates are set administratively and were not retrieved. Coordinates for Farasan Islands (~16.70N, 42.12E) and Jeddah (~21.5N, 39.0E) are approximate centroids from general geography, not from a legal gazette.
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