Saudi Arabia imposes SR150,000 fines on unlicensed weather broadcasters

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology (NCM has imposed fines exceeding150,000 riyals on several individuals for disseminating unauthorised weather information, in violation of the centre’s regulations, Arabic-language Okaz newspaper reported.

NCM spokesperson Hussein Al Qahtani explicated that the measures are part of the centre’s enforcement of meteorology laws, based on Article 9 of the executive regulations, which prohibits engaging in any weather-related activities without obtaining an official permit or licence from the centre. 

Al Qahtani added that not all violations were met with financial penalties. In some cases, the centre accepted written commitments from individuals pledging not to repeat the infractions.

He stressed that the goal of these measures is not merely to impose fines, but to ensure the reliability of meteorological information and protect public safety, while raising awareness of and compliance with the regulations.