Saudi Red Sea Authority Explained

Saudi Red Sea Authority Arabic: الهيئة السعودية للبحر الأحمر
Formation:	^[1]
Type:	authority
Location:	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Region Served:	Saudi Arabia
Leader Name:	Mohammed Alasiri
Website:	Saudi Red Sea Authority

Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) was established by a Council of Ministers’ decision November 30, 2021,^[2] as an enabler and regulator of marine and navigational tourism activities within the geographical scope of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea.^{[3] [4]}

Introduction

SRSA's focus is on issuing the necessary licenses and permits, developing policies and plans, identifying areas and navigational maps for the conduct of navigational and marine tourism activities, identifying infrastructure requirements, putting in place a mechanism to protect the marine environment, supporting investors including SMEs, promoting the activities to practitioners, and enhancing human capability by providing training programs.

Board of Directors

1. Minister of Sports
2. Minister of Culture^[5]
3. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior
4. A representative from the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Border Guards)
5. A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
6. A representative from the Ministry of Tourism
7. A representative from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing
8. A representative from the Saudi Ports Authority
9. A representative from the Transport General Authority
10. A representative from the Saudi Tourism Authority
11. A representative from the Public Investment Fund
12. Mayor of Jeddah Governorate
13. CEO of NEOM
14. CEO of Red Sea Global
15. President of the Water Sports Association
16. Specialists and experts, no less than (three) and no more than (five) in fields related to the Authority's work

SRSA mandates

• Developing policies, strategies, plans, programs, and initiatives.^[6]
• Issuing the necessary licenses and permits for operating navigational and marine tourism activities.
• Identifying areas, routes, and navigational maps for the conduct of navigational and marine tourism activities, in coordination with relevant entities.
• Identifying infrastructure requirements in cooperation with the relevant entities.
• Putting in place a mechanism to protect of the maritime environment in areas where navigation and marine tourism activities take place.
• Implementing measures to incentivize and attract investment in navigational and marine tourism activities, in collaboration with relevant entities.
• Promoting navigational and marine tourism activities to attract practitioners.
• Developing a technical system that includes databases and information relevant to Saudi Red Sea Authority's activities.
• Enhancing human capability by providing access to national training programs in fields relating to the Saudi Red Sea Authority's objectives and responsibilities.

SRSA regulation

Regulation Name	Purpose of Regulation	Activity/Stream	Regulation Details
Private Visiting Yachts.^[7] ^[8]	This regulation aims to regulate the entry and exit of private foreign yachts visiting the Saudi territorial waters on the Red Sea coast.	Yachting & Motorized.^[9]	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167294
Large Yachts Chartering Regulation.	This regulation aims to allow large yachts carrying foreign flags to be chartered in Saudi territorial waters on the Red Sea coast through the chartering permit system.	Yachting & Motorized.	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167298
Cruise Ships Regulation.	Define the terms, conditions and procedures that regulate the activity and business of cruise ships in the geographical location that falls within the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also aims to present the requirements necessary for the operator to practice the profession within the geographical scope and presenting the obligations and rights of each relevant party in the operation of cruise ships, taking into account safety, security, health, and environmental procedures.	Cruising.	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167300
Marinas Design and Operation Regulation.	This regulation aims to establish the terms, conditions and procedures regulating the activity and business of marina operators and the design of the tourist marinas within the geographical scope. It includes setting requirements for the operations of tourist marinas and present the main health, safety, and environmental, protection considerations required of the marina operator to obtain the operating license.	Yachting & Motorized.	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167294
Maritime Tourism Agents Regulation.	These requirements serve to present the required considerations from the maritime tourism agent and these conditions must be used in obtaining the operating license.	Yachting & Motorized.	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167287
Marine Tour Operator Regulation.	This regulation aims to establish the terms, conditions and procedures that regulate the activity and work of tour operators within the geographical scope.	Yachting, Cruising, Motorized, infrastructure and other activities.	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167302
Marine Tourism Watercraft Classification Regulation.	This Regulation aims to classify the marine tourism watercrafts used in coastal tourism, in which related Regulations will be issued by the Authority that enables the practice of maritime and marine activities within the Geographical Scope.	Yachting, Cruising & Motorized	https://redsea.gov.sa/en/node/167286

SRSA Achievements

2023

• Approving and implementing the first strategy for costal tourism in Saudi Arabia, which include: 6 primary objectives and 24 KPIs.^[10]
• 7 Regulations have been issued for navigational tourism activities.
• 16 MoUs signed with public and private sectors both locally and internationally.
• 19 Government entities have been collaborated with to create the first geographical navigation map of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.^[11]
• 30 Entities from the public and private sectors have been collaborated with to lead national initiatives through 7 subcommittees.
• Working with entities within the environmental ecosystem to oversea environmental protection.
• Participation in various local and international conferences and exhibitions.
• 14 On ground inspections have been completed in line with current regulations to facilitate license issuance.

See also

• Ministry of Tourism
• The Red Sea Project
• Tourism in Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Ports Authority

Notes and References

1. https://redsea.gov.sa/#media-center-section
2. Web site: New authority will drive the sustainable development of Red Sea Economy . December 2021 .
3. https://redsea.gov.sa/
4. Web site: Saudi Establishes New Authority to Drive Sustainable Development of Red Sea Economy .
5. https://redsea.gov.sa/#leadership-BOD-section
6. https://redsea.gov.sa/#
7. https://redsea.gov.sa/en/regulations
8. Web site: Saudi Arabia Tourism Red Sea Authority New regulations for maritime tourist activities . 9 August 2023 .
9. Web site: Find details of Saudi Red Sea Authority regulations .
10. Web site: Saudi developer Red Sea Global celebrates 2023 achievements and sets out 2024 goals . 17 January 2024 .
11. Web site: Saudi Red Sea Authority: 2023, the Year that Puts the Basis of a Thriving Coastal Tourism .