- Home
- NCEC library
- Fines
NCEC fines
103 penalties from the penalty tables of the NCEC environmental regulations, grouped by the regulation they come from.
WhatsAppAmounts are in Saudi riyals, as written in each regulation's penalty table. Some rows give one amount for each activity category (Category 1, 2 or 3). The table amount is not always the whole cost:
- Almost every row also obliges the violator to correct the violation, repair the damage and pay compensation, which is calculated separately from the fine.Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024)
- A serious violation under the Permits regulation is priced in proportion to the damage, by an expert committee.Permits reg. Art. 11(2)
- NCEC imposes fines of up to 100,000 riyals. Larger fines are decided by the Violations Review Committee.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, First (3)
- A repeat within one year of a final penalty decision can double the fine.Env Law Art. 38(3)
On 5 September 2024 (1446H), ministerial decisions re-issued the penalty tables of 13 executive regulations. References marked 2024 point to those tables.Decision 15029124 (1446H) For how penalties are decided, read the fines guide and the guide to serious violations. To challenge a penalty, read objecting to an NCEC decision. Facilities in Royal Commission cities face the Royal Commission fines instead.
- Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024)
- Permits reg. Art. 11(2)
- Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, First (3)
- Env Law Art. 38(3)
- Decision 15029124 (1446H)
| Violation | Fine | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate ActivitiesAbout this regulation | ||
| Providing incorrect information, data or findings in any study, plan or report submitted to NCEC (plus referral to the public prosecution) | 1,000 to 100,000 riyals | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 1 |
| Conducting the activity without obtaining an environmental permit | Category 1: 5,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 50,000 riyals | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 2 |
| Starting establishment of the activity without a valid permit to establish | Category 1: 5,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 50,000 riyals | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 3 |
| Starting operation without an effective permit to operate | Category 1: 10,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 50,000 riyals | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 4 |
| Any modification or addition to a permitted activity without NCEC approval | Category 1: 5,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 50,000 riyals | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 5 |
| Not complying with the environmental permit requirements | Category 1: 1,000 riyals per requirement. Category 2: 2,000 riyals per requirement. Category 3: 10,000 riyals per requirement | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 6 |
| Not implementing the commitments in the EIA | Category 2: 20,000 riyals per requirement. Category 3: 50,000 riyals per requirement | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 7 |
| Violating NCEC controls and requirements for closing the activity | Category 1: 5,000 riyals per requirement. Category 2: 20,000 riyals per requirement. Category 3: 50,000 riyals per requirement | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 8 |
| Not complying with the environmental management plan | Category 1: 500 riyals per requirement. Category 2: 2,000 riyals per requirement. Category 3: 5,000 riyals per requirement | Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), row 9 |
| Executive Regulation for Air QualityAbout this regulation | ||
| Installing and operating an ambient air quality monitoring network without a licence | 50,000 riyals for each network or station | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 1 |
| Sourcing an unlicensed service provider | 50,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 2 |
| Publishing air quality data or indicators without NCEC approval | 50,000 to 1,000,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 6 |
| Exceeding point source emission standards | 5,000 to 5,000,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 7 |
| Not carrying out regular maintenance of machinery, equipment and emission control systems | 20,000 to 200,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 9 |
| Not submitting periodic reports within the period set in a temporary exemption permit | 20,000 to 100,000 riyals for each report | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 10 |
| Not installing continuous monitoring systems where required or requested by NCEC | 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 13 |
| Not conducting annual tests and analyses of point sources that are not under continuous monitoring | 10,000 to 100,000 riyals for each year | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 22 |
| Not keeping records and data for the period and to the requirements of Article 5 | 10,000 to 100,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 24 |
| Not informing NCEC immediately of emergencies or temporary shutdowns that caused point source emission standards to be exceeded | 50,000 to 500,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 25 |
| Not developing and implementing programmes to detect and stop leaks of organic materials (LDAR) | 50,000 to 500,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 28 |
| Not complying with the controls to limit volatile substances (dust and air obstructions) | 50,000 riyals | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 36 |
| Not complying with the requirements of air quality permits and licences or other NCEC air quality requirements | 50,000 riyals for each requirement | Air reg. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 37 |
| Executive Regulation for NoiseAbout this regulation | ||
| Not providing NCEC with requested noise monitoring data | 3,000 to 10,000 riyals for each notice issued by the Center | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 1 |
| Not keeping noise monitoring data for the period set in Article 8 | 5,000 riyals for each year | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 2 |
| Not complying with the allowed periods and noise limits | 5,000 to 10,000 riyals for each excess notice issued by the Center | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 3 |
| Not complying with the controls and requirements for noise level monitoring | 2,000 to 30,000 riyals for each requirement | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 4 |
| Not developing a noise reduction action plan after a notice from NCEC | 1,000 to 20,000 riyals for each day of delay | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 6 |
| Not complying with the controls and requirements of a noise permit | 5,000 to 20,000 riyals for each requirement | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 7 |
| Not submitting periodic progress reports on the plan to comply with the allowed noise limits | 5,000 to 20,000 riyals for each report | Noise reg. Noise reg. Art. 11, Table 5 (2024), row 8 |
| Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from PollutionAbout this regulation | ||
| Committing any Article 5 prohibition, such as discharging or injecting untreated wastewater or dumping hazardous waste in aqueous media (plus referral to the Public Prosecution) | 10,000 to 20,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 1 |
| Not complying with the treated wastewater standards before discharge to environmental media | 10,000 to 5,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 2 |
| Not complying with the requirements and controls for outfalls and mixing zones | 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 4 |
| Not complying with the monitoring and surveillance requirements of Article 6, clause Fourth | 50,000 to 200,000 riyals for each notification by the Center | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 5 |
| Not complying with the operational controls for emergencies in Article 7 | 50,000 riyals for each item | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 7 |
| Temporarily exceeding treated wastewater standards or discharging treated wastewater to environmental media without a permit | 50,000 to 20,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 8 |
| Not complying with the provisions of a temporary exception permit | 10,000 to 20,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 13 |
| Not submitting periodic reports to NCEC when requested | 10,000 riyals for each notification by the Center | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 14 |
| Not complying with the controls and requirements of a permit to discharge water into environmental media | 10,000 to 20,000,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 15 |
| Not informing NCEC as soon as pollution (exceedances) is detected in waterbodies as part of the activity's operations | 10,000 to 100,000 riyals | Aqueous reg. Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), row 17 |
| Executive Regulation for Environmental Inspections and Audits (1446H)About this regulation | ||
| Including inaccurate or incorrect information, data or results in reports to NCEC (plus referral to the Public Prosecution) | 1,000 to 50,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 1 |
| Preventing inspectors from inspecting or entering sites without a justification NCEC accepts | 20,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 2 |
| Assaulting inspectors while they perform their work (plus referral to the Public Prosecution) | 50,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 3 |
| Not developing action plans for corrective measures | 20,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 7 |
| Not implementing action plans for corrective measures | 30,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 8 |
| Not developing the environmental audit study | 20,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 9 |
| Not implementing the results of the environmental audit study | 30,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 10 |
| Sabotaging monitoring devices to disrupt them or change data and measurements | 20,000 to 100,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 11 |
| Missing measurement data from monitoring devices, or not keeping it in the environmental registers (warning principle applies) | 20,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 12 |
| Using the Environmental Compliance Badge after its suspension or cancellation | 10,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 13 |
| Not allowing inspectors to review records and data on environmental matters at the facility under inspection (Ministry of Interior called in) | 10,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 4 |
| Not allowing inspectors to take photographs relating to the inspection without a justification NCEC accepts (Ministry of Interior called in) | 10,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 5 |
| Not allowing inspectors to take measurements or samples of materials and items at the activity site (Ministry of Interior called in) | 10,000 riyals | Audit reg. (1446H) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 6 |
| Executive Regulation for Environmental Service Providers (1446H)About this regulation | ||
| Providing environmental services without a licence, outside the licence, or after the licence is cancelled | 5,000 to 50,000 riyals (warning principle applies) | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 1 |
| Submitting forged documents or data to obtain a licence (plus referral to the Public Prosecution) | 10,000 to 250,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 2 |
| Continuing to provide services after the licence expires | 1,000 to 10,000 riyals (warning principle applies) | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 3 |
| Not using competent specialists according to the requirements of the classification category | 20,000 to 50,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 7 |
| Not complying with the licence controls and conditions | 200 to 500 riyals for each control or condition (warning principle applies) | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 8 |
| Not disclosing a conflict of interest during environmental studies | 5,000 to 50,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 9 |
| Submitting incorrect information, data or results in any study, plan or report to NCEC | 1,000 to 50,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 10 |
| Environmental damage caused by reliance on the provider's studies, reports, works or technical opinions | 10,000 to 150,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 11 |
| Submitting forged or fabricated documents, or deliberately including incorrect information in reports, records and data (plus referral to the Public Prosecution) | 10,000 to 250,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 12 |
| Not keeping records and data according to the regulation (warning principle applies) | 1,000 to 20,000 riyals, by the importance of the data | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 4 |
| Not providing NCEC with records and data on request or when they are due (warning principle applies) | 3,000 to 5,000 riyals | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 5 |
| Not providing environmental services by correct and modern scientific methods | 5,000 to 20,000 riyals, by the number and types of services | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 6 |
| Publishing any data on the quality of environmental media without NCEC approval or a licence | 5,000 to 1,000,000 riyals, plus cancellation of the licence as the case may be (considered by the Violations Review Committees) | SP reg. (1446H) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 13 |
| Executive Regulation for the Prevention and Remediation of Soil PollutionAbout this regulation | ||
| Any activity that may directly or indirectly damage or pollute the soil | 20,000 to 10,000,000 riyals | Soil reg. Soil reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 1 |
| Failing to take appropriate measures to prevent soil pollution | 20,000 to 500,000 riyals | Soil reg. Soil reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 2 |
| Failing to treat polluted soil and rehabilitate sites to the soil protection standards | 30,000 to 10,000,000 riyals | Soil reg. Soil reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 5 |
| Failing to provide updated records of the measures taken on soil pollution | 50,000 to 100,000 riyals | Soil reg. Soil reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 6 |
| Failing to inform NCEC as soon as soil pollution is detected during an activity | 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals | Soil reg. Soil reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 7 |
| Executive Regulations for the Environmental Rehabilitation of Degraded Sites and Remediation of Polluted SitesAbout this regulation | ||
| Submitting inaccurate information or data in a rehabilitation or remediation plan (plus referral to public prosecution) | 10,000 to 100,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 1 |
| Refraining from implementing the rehabilitation or remediation plan | Category 1: 15,000 riyals. Category 2: 30,000 riyals. Category 3: 100,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 2 |
| Failure to comply with the provisions of the approved rehabilitation or remediation plan | Category 1: 15,000 riyals. Category 2: 30,000 riyals. Category 3: 100,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 3 |
| Failure to inform NCEC of an environmental incident during rehabilitation or remediation works | Category 1: 10,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 30,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 5 |
| Failure to update the rehabilitation plan when requested by NCEC | Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 30,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 6 |
| Implementing a rehabilitation or remediation plan without NCEC approval | Category 1: 10,000 riyals. Category 2: 20,000 riyals. Category 3: 30,000 riyals | Rehab reg. Rehab reg. Art. 8, Table 1 (2024), row 7 |
| Executive Regulation for the Sustainable Management of the Marine and Coastal Environment (1448H update)About this regulation | ||
| Carrying out an Article 7 activity (such as dredging, backfilling, reclamation or coastal construction) without a licence or permit. Non-serious, so a business pays 25 to 100 percent of the amount by size | Warning with 30 days to correct, then 50,000 to 200,000 (first), 200,000 to 500,000 (second), 500,000 to 2,000,000 riyals (third) | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 43 |
| Failure to notify NCEC immediately of an oil or harmful substance spill or loss of cargo | 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 35 |
| Extracting, destroying or damaging coral (all coral species) | 5,000 riyals up to 200,000 riyals per cubic meter, plus repair and compensation | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 17 and Table 3, row 7 |
| Not notifying the competent authority immediately of an incident causing environmental damage, or of contact or collision with coral reefs or marine wildlife | 10,000 to 500,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 36 |
| Not taking the necessary measures to contain leaks in the marine and coastal environment (plus correction, repair and compensation) | 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals, by the damage and the area affected | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 37 |
| Disposing of waste in the marine and coastal environment | Minimum 2,000 riyals, maximum 500,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 40 |
| Disposing of hazardous waste in the marine and coastal environment | 50,000 to 20,000,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 41 |
| Licence or permit holder not complying with the controls and conditions of marine and coastal licences and permits | 5,000 to 200,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 44 |
| Not complying, after notification, with a restriction, suspension or temporary stop decision issued by the competent authority to protect wildlife, their habitats and breeding and migration seasons | 50,000 to 500,000 riyals | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 46 |
| Installing marine and coastal quality monitoring systems or networks without a licence. Non-serious, so a business pays 25 to 100 percent of the amount by size | Warning with 30 days to correct, then 5,000 (first), 10,000 (second), 25,000 riyals (third) per network or station | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 48 and Table 2 |
| Not providing the competent authority with activity data within the period set in the permit, licence or notice. Non-serious, so a business pays 25 to 100 percent of the amount by size | Warning with 30 days to correct, then 1,000 (first), 5,000 (second), 50,000 riyals (third) per required data item | Marine reg. (1448H) Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 49 and Table 2 |
| Environmental Law, Royal Decree M/165 (1441H)About this regulation | ||
| Administrative fine for violating the Law and its regulations (ceiling) | Not exceeding 20,000,000 riyals | Env Law Env Law Art. 38 |
| Committing an Article 35 act, such as discharging untreated wastewater into environmental media or disposing of hazardous waste in them (court penalty) | Fine not exceeding 30,000,000 riyals and imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or either penalty | Env Law Env Law Art. 40 |
| Executive Regulation on the Controls for Preparing and Implementing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and DisastersAbout this regulation | ||
| Not preparing and submitting to NCEC the self plan for emergency preparedness and response (if still not submitted after the penalty, temporary closure can be sought from the Violations Review Committee) | 5,000 to 10,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 1 |
| Not complying with NCEC controls and requirements for submitting emergency response plans | 3,000 to 10,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 2 |
| Not implementing the self plan when an environmental emergency occurs at the activity (plus treating the damage and paying compensation) | 20,000 to 1,000,000 riyals, by the damage | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 3 |
| Not complying with the measures and plans NCEC sets for handling emergencies and environmental disasters | 50,000 to 2,000,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 4 |
| Obstructing environmental inspectors or refusing them entry without a justification NCEC accepts | Penalties of the Audit regulation apply | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 5 |
| Not submitting a technical report on the emergency or disaster, or not complying with NCEC's related controls (plus correcting the violation) | 5,000 to 100,000 riyals, by the size and type of the emergency | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 6 |
| Refusing to prepare and implement action plans for corrective measures | 5,000 to 100,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 7 |
| Refusing to amend the self plan or the corrective action plan in line with NCEC comments within the set period | 5,000 to 100,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 8 |
| Not submitting self-audit reports on preparedness and readiness | 5,000 to 10,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 9 |
| Including incorrect information, data or results in reports submitted to NCEC | 1,000 to 100,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 10 |
| Not providing NCEC with the records and data it requests | 50,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 11 |
| Not notifying NCEC immediately when an emergency or environmental disaster occurs | 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 12 |
| Using any chemical dispersant without NCEC approval or without justification NCEC accepts | 10,000 riyals per cubic metre of dispersant used | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 13 |
| Not taking the necessary measures to contain leaks and protect environmental media (plus treating the damage and paying compensation) | 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals, by the damage | Emergency reg. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 14 |
No fines match. Try a shorter word, or clear the filters.
Need help with this? Talk to our team. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.