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The Special Forces for Environmental Security announced that its field patrols at the King Salman Royal Reserve apprehended four citizens. The individuals were engaged in hunting without a license according to the force. Officers discovered the group in possession of two air rifles along with 15 hunted wild animals during the patrol operation. The announcement detailed the events at the protected site on August 27, 2026.
The four citizens were referred to the competent authorities after the completion of necessary legal procedures, the Special Forces for Environmental Security stated. The force carries out such patrols to uphold rules that govern activities inside the reserve. Its announcement outlined the sequence of the apprehension and transfer without providing names of those detained.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security emphasized the importance of adhering to environmental regulations and their executive bylaws. These rules prohibit hunting of wildlife in the reserve and similar protected zones. The force highlighted the need for full compliance to maintain the integrity of designated conservation areas.
Hunting without a license carries a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals according to the Special Forces for Environmental Security. A separate penalty of 5,000 Saudi riyals applies to hunting in prohibited areas. The same 5,000 riyal fine is levied for hunting the common warbler without a license.
The Special Forces for Environmental Security urged the public to report cases of environmental or wildlife abuse through designated hotlines. Calls should go to 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province. The numbers 999 and 996 serve the remainder of the Kingdom for such reports. All submissions receive complete confidentiality and impose no responsibility on the individual filing them.
The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority reported that its regulatory and protection efforts raised the number of recorded plant species to 241 in 2025. The total grew from 197 species documented in 2024 with 44 new species identified in a single year according to an authority statistical report. The reserve spans 130,700 square kilometers and ranks as the largest in the Middle East.
The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority stated that the area hosts more than 550 species of wild and grazing plants along with over 350 species of wildlife. The protected zone provides habitat for more than 1,245 native species overall. Authority assessments have also recorded over 120 wildlife births in recent periods.
