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The Kingdom’s first-ever yachting regulations now include requirements for visiting private yachts, cruise ships, and leasing mega yachts, after the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) issued amendments complementing yacht regulations that came into effect earlier this month. The regulations provide frameworks for managing yacht registration, licensing, and operations within the country’s waters that were limited in scope to Saudi-registered crafts.
Visiting yachts must obtain a technical license and a cruising permit before entering or docking in the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia. A tourist trip permit is also required for traveling between destinations within Saudi waters. Entrance without a license is permitted in case of emergencies, but a tourist agency must be assigned within three days of arrival. Air vehicles aboard visiting yachts must also be cleared by the General Authority for Civil Aviation.
Cruise ships entering Saudi also have document + credential requirements: Cruise ship operators require documents in Arabic or English, a commercial register, and an investment license for foreign or mixed ownership companies to apply for permits. Operators need at least two years of experience, a municipal license, and must follow international maritime treaties. Ship ownership is not required, and third-party operations are allowed if licensed. To obtain the license, operators must submit all required documents through SRSA’s online platform, with a 24-hour timeframe for approvals. The regulations on environmental preservation have also been extended beyond waste dumping to cover all activities that may damage marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, both cruise ship organizers and operators are required to adhere to security and safety laws.
Updated regulations for leasing mega yachts require tourist navigation agents to comply with the Kingdom’s border security system in addition to existing regulations. To obtain a tourist rental license, large yachts with foreign flags must apply through the online platform, providing a valid navigation license from the General Transport Authority and a technical (tourism and entertainment) license, both of which must be valid during the rental period.
