Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has no freedom of panorama, and photographing or posting an image of a person without consent is a criminal offence.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Ministry of Culture (GCAM) for commercial photography; site management for heritage and tourism sites
Cost: Casual public snapshots are broadly tolerated where not prohibited; commercial photography needs an advance permit
Commercial photography needs a Ministry of Culture permit. Government, military, security, royal, and many religious sites are off-limits. Photographing people without consent is a criminal offence.
Drone / airspace
Regulated by GACA; registration and a remote-pilot certificate required, with operational authorization for many flights
For category detail, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
No by default for people: capturing and especially publishing a person's image without consent is prosecutable under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law
Photographing women, families, children, police, and government staff is especially sensitive.
Freedom of panorama
Restricted (no freedom of panorama)
The Copyright Law (2003) protects architecture and artistic works with no panorama exception, so you generally cannot sell images of in-copyright public structures or art. Protection lasts 50 years after the author's death.
Practical notes
- Non-Muslims are barred from central Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque area in Medina; photography inside the two Holy Mosques is heavily restricted.
- Never photograph government, military, royal, airport, or police sites, and do not photograph or post images of residents without consent.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: