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The Air Quality regulation defines construction dust as a point source and requires sites to cover or wet volatile materials, use dust-proof transport and stabilise haul routes. Ambient PM10 is limited to 340 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average with 12 exceedances a year and 50 µg/m³ as an annual average, and PM2.5 to 35 µg/m³ and 15 µg/m³. Failing the dust controls carries a fixed fine of 50,000 riyals, and exceeding point source emission standards can cost 5,000 to 5,000,000 riyals. Publishing air quality data without NCEC approval is fined 50,000 to 1,000,000 riyals.
Key terms used in this guide 9 terms
- Compensation
- Monetary amount paid by the person who causes the damage, pollution or environmental degradation, to compensate for or eliminate the resulting deterioration. It includes rehabilitation expenses if the person causing the damage did not carry out the rehabilitation. Arabic: التعويضات (meaning “the compensations”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1
- Environmental degradation
- Severe damage to the environment caused by the depletion of natural resources, the destruction of natural habitats, the extinction of wildlife species, or the pollution of environmental media and the deterioration of air, water and soil quality. Arabic: التدهور البيئي (meaning “environmental deterioration”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Environmental incident
- An event caused by natural or operational factors within an activity, facility or marine vessel that has caused or may cause damage resulting in a spill or leak of harmful substances into the environment. Any incident, whatever its size or type, must be reported to NCEC immediately. Arabic: الحادثة البيئية (meaning “the environmental incident”) Emergency reg. Art. 1 and Art. 6(2)
- Environmentally sensitive areas
- Areas with environmental significance whose degradation has negative repercussions for the environment. They include protected areas, parks, forests, wetlands, significant bird habitat, mangroves, landscaped sites, watersheds, water catchment and run-off areas, beaches, waterways, aquifers or any other area identified or declared as environmentally sensitive by the State, the Ministry or the national environmental centers. Arabic: المناطق الحساسة بيئياً (meaning “areas sensitive environmentally”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Licence
- A document issued by the Center authorizing a person to undertake an environmental activity. Arabic: الترخيص (meaning “the licence”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Point source
- Permanent or semi-permanent activities resulting in the emission of air pollutants, such as industrial stacks, energy production plants, and the dust resulting from mining activities and construction works, amongst others. Arabic: المصادر الثابتة (meaning “the fixed (stationary) sources”) Air reg. Art. 1
- Sensitive receptors
- Receptors that are likely to be severely affected by activity or project due to their geographical proximity or sensitive nature. They include environmental elements, living species, archeological, cultural and religious sites, and community groups (such as endangered species, hospitals, elder care centers, schools, residential complexes, and others). Arabic: المستقبلات الحساسة (meaning “the sensitive receivers”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Serious violation
- A violation involving acts stipulated in Article 35 of the Environmental Law, acts that lead to environmental degradation, or acts that harm sensitive receptors or environmentally sensitive areas. Its penalty is proportional to the damage and is estimated by a committee of experts formed by the NCEC CEO. Arabic: المخالفات الجسيمة (meaning “the grave violations”) Permits reg. Art. 11(1) to (3)
- Service provider
- A person licensed by the competent authority to provide environmental services. The Audit regulation uses the singular مقدم الخدمة (meaning the service provider) for a person licensed by the Center. Arabic: مقدمو الخدمات (meaning “the service providers (those who provide the services)”) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1
On this page
How does the Air Quality regulation treat construction dust?
The Air Quality regulation applies to all persons in the Kingdom.Air reg. Art. 2
It defines point sources as permanent or semi-permanent activities that emit air pollutants. The definition names industrial stacks, energy plants and the dust from mining activities and construction works.Air reg. Art. 1
The text does not say which stack-oriented duties apply to an open construction site. The duties to follow NCEC emission reduction plans and to maintain machinery, equipment and pollution controls are written for all point source operators.Air reg. Art. 5, First (3) and (4)
Where the English translation and the Arabic original differ, the Arabic prevails.Air reg. cover note
What ambient PM10 and PM2.5 limits apply?
Appendix 1 sets these ambient limits for particulates, expressed at 25 °C and 1 atm:Air reg. Appendix 1
| PM10, 24-hour average | 340 µg/m³, 12 exceedances a year |
|---|---|
| PM10, 1-year average | 50 µg/m³ |
| PM2.5, 24-hour average | 35 µg/m³, 12 exceedances a year |
| PM2.5, 1-year average | 15 µg/m³ |
| Lead in TSP, 3-month rolling average | 0.15 µg/m³, no exceedances |
Appendix 1 sets no standalone limit for total suspended particulates (TSP). TSP appears only as the medium in which lead is measured.Air reg. Appendix 1, row 13
The Appendix 1 table heading reads 'Proposed Standards'. Article 4 states that Appendix 1 sets the air quality standards for primary pollutants.Air reg. Art. 4, First (1)
Natural events such as sandstorms are excluded from the ambient standards.Air reg. Art. 4, First (3)
Natural contributions may be subtracted when assessing compliance only where they can be determined with sufficient certainty. The demonstration uses measurements, back-trajectory modelling of air masses, remote sensing and modelling.Air reg. Appendix 1, note ***
NCEC may exempt cases caused by environmental incidents and disasters, but such exemptions do not include residential areas.Air reg. Art. 4, First (4)
Table sourceAir reg. Appendix 1
Who is blamed when ambient limits are exceeded?
When NCEC detects an ambient exceedance, it inspects and carries out technical studies to identify the source.Air reg. Art. 4, Second (2)
If the exceedance is caused by a specific and known source, penalties are imposed on that violator.Air reg. Art. 4, Second (3)
If several sources that each comply with their permits cause the exceedance together, NCEC runs a monitoring programme and develops an action plan with them to reduce emissions.Air reg. Art. 4, Second (4)
What dust controls must a construction site apply?
Article 7 covers exploration, excavation, construction, demolition, waste transport and the loading and unloading of any materials or soil. Persons carrying out these activities must take the necessary precautions, including:Air reg. Art. 7
- Covering volatile materials on site, fixing them by means such as water spraying, or keeping them in closed areas.Air reg. Art. 7(1)
- Using transport equipped to prevent dust emissions when transporting, loading or unloading waste and dust.Air reg. Art. 7(2)
- Stabilising the routes used to transport materials by any appropriate means. The English translation says 'install the routes', while the Arabic original, which prevails, refers to stabilising them.Air reg. Art. 7(3)
The fine for breaching these controls is a fixed amount and is not linked to a measured exceedance.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 36
Several emission limits in the regulation also reach construction sites:
- Stockpiles must not exceed 10 percent opacity, compared with 20 percent for sources in general.Air reg. Appendix 3, items 1 and 3
- No asbestos emissions are allowed.Air reg. Appendix 3, item 2
- Asphalt and concrete plants are limited to 90 mg/dscm of particulates at all emission points.Air reg. Appendix 4, row 5.1
- Outdoor abrasive blasting must use abrasives with less than 5 percent silica.Air reg. Appendix 4, row 1.1
Who may monitor dust, and can the data be published?
The Air Quality regulation does not itself require construction sites to run PM10 monitors. NCEC may set air quality requirements in permits and licences, and breaching any of them is fined 50,000 riyals per requirement.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 37
Installing and operating an ambient air quality monitoring network needs an NCEC licence. Installation, operation and maintenance must be carried out by a service provider licensed by NCEC.Air reg. Art. 4, Third (1) and (2)
Measurements and analyses on point sources must also be carried out by an NCEC-licensed service provider.Air reg. Art. 5, Fourth (7)
A network licensee must report data to NCEC, notify it of every exceedance, and may not disclose any data, records or indicators without NCEC's written consent.Air reg. Art. 4, Third (7), (8) and (10)
Publishing air quality data or indicators without NCEC approval is fined 50,000 to 1,000,000 riyals, depending on the importance and amount of data. The wording of this penalty is not limited to network licensees.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 6
Treat dust readings in community updates, sustainability reports or marketing material as needing NCEC approval first. Ask your monitoring provider to show that its NCEC licence covers the service.
What are the penalties?
Table 3 of the Air Quality regulation includes these fines relevant to construction dust:Air reg. Table 3 (2024)
| Not complying with dust (volatile substance) controls | 50,000 riyals |
|---|---|
| Exceeding point source emission standards | 5,000 to 5,000,000 riyals, plus repair of damage and compensation |
| Not following NCEC emission reduction plans | 5,000 to 5,000,000 riyals |
| Not maintaining machinery and emission controls | 20,000 to 200,000 riyals |
| Using an unlicensed service provider | 50,000 riyals |
| Publishing air quality data without approval | 50,000 to 1,000,000 riyals |
| Breaching any air permit or licence requirement | 50,000 riyals per requirement |
Serious violations are penalised in proportion to the damage, with the amount estimated by an expert committee formed by NCEC's CEO. A violation is serious if it leads to environmental degradation or harms sensitive receptors or environmentally sensitive areas.Air reg. Art. 8(2) to (4)
A 1446H ministerial decision (15029057) re-issued Table 3 with a new type of violation column. It classes 36 of the 37 violations as serious. Row 11 (stacks not designed to the Article 6 controls, 50,000 riyals) has no classification in the published table. Every amount is unchanged, and the decision does not say how the classification relates to the expert committee process.Decision 15029057 (1446H), Air reg. Table 3 (2024), row 11
Table sourceAir reg. Table 3 (2024), items 2, 6 to 9, 36 and 37
What can go wrong?
These are the issues that most often expose construction sites under the Air Quality regulation:
- Assuming the air rules only apply to factories with stacks. Construction dust is a point source by definition.Air reg. Art. 1
- Relying on a sandstorm to excuse high readings. Natural contribution must be demonstrated with data and modelling before it is subtracted.Air reg. Appendix 1, note ***
- Being identified as the specific and known source of a nearby ambient exceedance, which exposes the site to penalties.Air reg. Art. 4, Second (3)
- Leaving stockpiles uncovered or haul roads untreated. A breach of the dust controls carries a fixed fine of 50,000 riyals.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 36
- Using a monitoring firm or laboratory that is not licensed by NCEC, which is fined 50,000 riyals.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 2
- Posting dust readings online or in reports without NCEC approval, with fines of up to 1,000,000 riyals.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 6
- Running an on-site batching plant that does not meet its 90 mg/dscm particulate limit.Air reg. Appendix 4, row 5.1
Hills & Field sets up construction dust controls and PM10 monitoring and prepares the compliance reporting NCEC expects.
References
Each small number in this guide shows the article or section that point comes from. Hover over or tap a number to see it, or open the full list below.
Show all 32 references and the 2 regulation texts
- Air reg. Art. 2
- Air reg. Art. 1
- Air reg. Art. 5, First (3) and (4)
- Air reg. cover note
- Air reg. Appendix 1
- Air reg. Appendix 1, row 13
- Air reg. Art. 4, First (1)
- Air reg. Art. 4, First (3)
- Air reg. Appendix 1, note ***
- Air reg. Art. 4, First (4)
- Air reg. Art. 4, Second (2)
- Air reg. Art. 4, Second (3)
- Air reg. Art. 4, Second (4)
- Air reg. Art. 7
- Air reg. Art. 7(1)
- Air reg. Art. 7(2)
- Air reg. Art. 7(3)
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 36
- Air reg. Appendix 3, items 1 and 3
- Air reg. Appendix 3, item 2
- Air reg. Appendix 4, row 5.1
- Air reg. Appendix 4, row 1.1
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 37
- Air reg. Art. 4, Third (1) and (2)
- Air reg. Art. 5, Fourth (7)
- Air reg. Art. 4, Third (7), (8) and (10)
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 6
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024)
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024), items 2, 6 to 9, 36 and 37
- Air reg. Art. 8(2) to (4)
- Decision 15029057 (1446H), Air reg. Table 3 (2024), row 11
- Air reg. Table 3 (2024), item 2
How to read these references 1 text cited
- Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).
- First, Second and Third are the numbered parts some articles are divided into. The Arabic texts write them أولاً، ثانياً، ثالثاً (meaning first, second, third).
- Decision followed by a number is a ministerial or Council of Ministers decision. Most of the 1446H decisions replaced a regulation's penalty table.
- H after a year marks the Hijri (Islamic calendar) year. 1446H ran from July 2024 to June 2025.
Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.
Regulation texts this guide is written from
- Executive Regulation for Air Quality (Environmental Law, Royal Decree M/165)
- Ministerial Decision 15029057 dated 1446/02/04H amending Table 3 of the Air Quality regulation
This guide is general information written from the regulation texts listed above. It is not legal advice. Regulations change, and the official text always prevails. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.