The Saudi Council of Ministers approved amendments to Cabinet Decision No. 92/1439 on the Law on Combating Terrorism and Its Financing along with updates to its implementing regulations during a session chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The decision numbered 17 and dated 1 Muharram 1448 corresponding to June 16, 2026, followed reviews of Shura Council input, Bureau of Experts memos and official recommendations according to the published record. Okaz reported on June 16, 2026, that the changes aim to strengthen national security and financial crime controls while improving enforcement mechanisms. The Council of Ministers directed preparation of a draft royal decree to enact the law amendments.
The original law was issued under Royal Decree No. D/21 on November 2, 2017, according to the text of Decision 17. Its executive regulation originated from a 2019 Council of Ministers decision that has now been updated in attached form. The 2026 modifications were published in Umm Al-Qura on June 18, 2026, after the session held in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Counter Terrorism Committee oversees coordination of national policies under the anti-terrorism framework, the committee’s documentation shows. The body conducts periodic reviews of strategies related to counterterrorism and financing prevention. Officials have incorporated evolving security and financial crime risks into the latest regulatory alignment, a Lexis Middle East summary of the Okaz report indicated.
The amendments form part of ongoing efforts to enhance the kingdom’s legal framework for preventing terrorism financing, according to the June 16, 2026, Cabinet announcement. Shura Council Decision 427/36 dated June 15, 2026, contributed to the final recommendation that the Council of Ministers adopted. Bureau of Experts assessments from March and April 2026 informed the adjustments to both the law and its regulation.
Earlier refinements to the counter-terrorism legislation occurred in 2020, records from international monitoring bodies note. The current updates build on that foundation by addressing enforcement gaps identified in official assessments. The Council of Ministers continues to examine related legislative matters in subsequent sessions to maintain alignment with national priorities.
Public Authority for State Security and prosecution bodies gained defined roles under the 2017 law, according to government publications. The 2026 decision reinforces those structures through targeted amendments that the Cabinet described as responsive to contemporary threats. Further implementation details will follow the issuance of the royal decree endorsing the changes.
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