In a strategic move aimed at strengthening the environmental protection system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Major General Saher bin Mohammed Al-Harbi, Commander of the Special Forces for Environmental Security, inaugurated the "Jibla" and "Al-Hadqa" field centers within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. This inauguration took place under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, reflecting the wise leadership's commitment to preserving the nation's natural resources.

During the opening ceremony, Major General Al-Harbi emphasized that the Special Forces for Environmental Security enjoy unlimited support from the wise leadership and continuous oversight from the security sectors, enabling them to fulfill their duties in protecting the environment and the nation's resources. He explained that the two new centers have been equipped with the latest security systems and advanced monitoring technologies, in addition to field vehicles and modern communication networks. This will directly contribute to enhancing the efficiency of security operations, expediting responses to reports, and ensuring the enforcement of environmental regulations to curb violations such as poaching, illegal logging, and unregulated grazing.

Promoting environmental sustainability and protecting biodiversity

The inauguration of the Jabalah and Al-Hadqa centers comes within a significant geographical and environmental context. The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve is one of the most important nature reserves in the Kingdom, boasting a unique diversity of plant and animal life, as well as varied terrain encompassing mountains, valleys, and plains. Jabalah Mountain is a prominent landmark in the region, and its protection requires a permanent security presence to ensure the sustainability of the vegetation and the return of wildlife to its natural state.

Major General Al-Harbi praised the level of cooperation and integration between the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority. He noted that this cooperation represents a model of joint work between government sectors to enhance environmental protection efforts and restore its natural balance, thus contributing to creating a sustainable environment for future generations.

Supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030

The opening of these centers is part of the strategic plan to deploy the Special Forces for Environmental Security to cover all environmental areas and royal reserves in the Kingdom. These efforts directly support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which aims to increase the percentage of protected areas, preserve the natural environment, improve quality of life, and promote ecotourism in accordance with regulations that ensure the safety of the ecosystem.

As part of its intensive efforts to regulate the transport and logistics sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Public Transport Authority the results of its field inspection campaigns for the month of January, which resulted in the detection of 90,000 various violations, after carrying out more than 437,000 accurate inspection operations that included land, sea and rail transport activities in various regions of the Kingdom.

Details of monitoring campaigns and compliance indicators

Official statistics released by the authority revealed that the land transport sector accounted for the largest share of inspections, with 430,000 inspections carried out, achieving a compliance rate of 93%. In contrast, the maritime transport sector saw 7,574 inspections conducted with a high compliance rate of 99%, while rail transport achieved a perfect 100% compliance rate across 95 inspection rounds, reflecting a strong commitment to safety standards in this vital sector.

Geographical distribution of violations and the most prominent transgressions

The data revealed that the Makkah region topped the list of regions with the highest number of recorded violations, at 30,000, followed by the Riyadh region with 24,000 violations, and then the Eastern Province with 11,000 violations. Madinah came in fourth place with 6,000 violations, and Asir with 4,000 violations. The violations observed varied, with the most prominent being:

• Failure to meet the necessary safety requirements for vehicles.
• Engaging in transportation activities without obtaining the necessary licenses.
• Using private vehicles for transportation (buses) in an irregular manner.
• Working with cancelled or expired operating cards.

The inspection teams dealt firmly with these violations, as 1,045 vehicles that did not comply with the technical requirements and applicable regulations were impounded.

Context of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy

These intensive campaigns are an integral part of the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy , stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to solidify the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub. Through these campaigns, the Public Transport Authority works to ensure a safe and reliable transport environment and enhance operational efficiency to guarantee the safety of lives and property.

The importance of oversight and its impact on the sector

These regulatory efforts are of paramount importance on both economic and social levels. They contribute to fostering fair competition among licensed establishments and protect legitimate investors from unfair competition resulting from unregulated transportation. Furthermore, increased compliance rates positively impact the quality of services provided to beneficiaries and reduce traffic accidents caused by a lack of safety measures, thus enhancing the overall quality of life in Saudi cities.