Wildlife Animal Protection in Saudi Arabia – Has it Come of Age?

Mahmud Zuhdi Mohd Nor

Shatha Mohamed Ismaeel

 

Abstract: This article offers an assessment of the Saudi environmental legislative framework under the 2020 Environmental Law and its family of implementing regulations, with a focus on wildlife animal protection. Specifically, it examines whether the new environmental law regime has transformed wildlife protection into a coherent and effective framework aligned with Saudi Arabia’s international environmental obligations. Methodologically, this article primarily employs a legal framework analysis and, in part, surveys major milestones to date and enforcement challenges, particularly issues concerning endangered species conservation, trafficking, and illegal trade. Findings show that the legislative framework possesses all the necessary features of robust legal mechanisms, capable of addressing ongoing and persistent challenges.