Saudi Arabia’s Sixth Hunting Season Opens Under Strict Rules

The National Center for Wildlife opened the 2026–27 terrestrial hunting season on September 1st, with hunting permitted through January 31st, 2027 under updated regulations governing species, quotas, licences and hunting methods.

Now in its sixth year since the initiative began in 2021, the season expands the number of permitted species to 30, raises the national hunting quota by 11% and increases the number of hunting licences by 34%.

Permits remain limited to species approved by the National Center for Wildlife and listed through its website and the Fitri platform. For species that may be hunted using falcons, permits are now linked to a valid falcon ownership certificate or passport.

Falconers registered with the Saudi Falcons Club must also obtain their hunting permits through Fitri.

Only licensed rifles that operate without gunpowder and use compressed gas or spring mechanisms, including air and gas-powered rifles, may be used. Hunting methods must ensure that no more than one bird is taken at a time.

Shotguns, hunting nets, attractants and calls are prohibited, while hunting threatened terrestrial wildlife remains permanently banned.

No-hunting zones include cities, villages, farms, rest houses and other populated areas, as well as locations near military, industrial and critical facilities. Hunting is also prohibited within protected areas and major development projects including Neom, Qiddiya and the Red Sea Project.

A 20-kilometre inland buffer from coastlines is also subject to the hunting ban.

The National Center for Wildlife said species lists, quotas and licence numbers are determined through scientific monitoring and accumulated data from previous seasons.

Violations are subject to penalties under the Environment Law, with the Special Forces for Environmental Security and other relevant authorities responsible for apprehending offenders and referring cases for legal action.