New laws in Saudi Arabia stop unofficial forecasting by weather-buffs and organisations at the Kingdom’s Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution slaps a ban on it with hefty fines and potential jail sentences.
The Bureau tweeted: “It is forbidden to carry out sovereign meteorological services concerned with meteorological activities, products, and information related to national security, and what is related in this regard is limited to the National Center of Meteorology.”
The new law, citing into effect in approx 6 months, makes it illegal for any individual or organization outside of the National Center of Meteorology to predict the weather and climatic conditions. Those found to be breaching the rules could be jailed for up to 10 years and be handed a maximum fine of SR2 million (about $530,000).