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Environmental monitoring reports are mandatory where your permit conditions require them, and they cover the period from permit issue to the end of the permit. The frequency is set in the permit, for example quarterly, semi-annual or annual. The report must be prepared by an NCEC licensed provider, with sampling and measurements by an NCEC licensed provider, and the NCEC guide lists 13 required report elements. Monitoring data must be kept for at least 5 years under the Air Quality and Aqueous Media regulations and at least 3 years under the Noise regulation.
Key terms used in this guide 9 terms
- Competent authority
- The Ministry, any of the national centres for the environment sector, or the Public Foundation for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, each within its mandate and as the regulations set. Council of Ministers Decision 406 added the Foundation to the Environmental Law definition. The Audit regulation (1446H) uses the same definition. Arabic: الجهة المختصة (meaning “the competent (specialised) authority”) Env Law Art. 1 as amended by Council of Ministers Decision 406 (1445H), Third, Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1
- Environmental impact assessment (EIA) study
- Study aimed at determining, estimating and evaluating the environmental impact of any activity classified by the Center as category 2 or 3, with the objective of incorporating environmental considerations into the final design of the activity, along with economic, social and security considerations, and identifying the necessary alternatives and measures to protect the environment. Arabic: دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “study of the assessment of the environmental impact”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Environmental management plan (EMP)
- Measures taken by the person to ensure and sustain environmental compliance. It is submitted as part of the procedures to obtain the environmental permit. Arabic: خطة الإدارة البيئية (meaning “the environmental management plan”) Permits reg. Art. 1
- Environmental monitoring reports
- Reports that facilities must submit through environmental service providers based on the permit conditions, presenting monitoring results for a set period (weekly, half-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual) as stated in the permit conditions (translated from the Arabic guide). Arabic: تقارير المراقبة البيئية (meaning “environmental monitoring reports”) Monitoring report guide, sections 2 and 4
- Environmental permit (general)
- Document issued by the Center to a person before undertaking an activity. Arabic: التصريح (meaning “the permit (authorisation)”) 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
- Self-monitoring reports
- Reports the permittee commits to submit during construction or operation at the frequency NCEC sets in the permit, with measurements and analyses by an NCEC-licensed service provider (translated from the Arabic guide). Arabic: تقارير المراقبة الذاتية (meaning “self-monitoring reports”) Permit guide, Appendix 1, item 8 and Appendix 2, item 6
- 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
- Warning principle
- Wording in the type of violation column of some penalty table rows ('the warning principle applies'), used in place of 'serious'. The tables do not explain what the principle involves. Arabic: مبدأ الإنذار (meaning “the principle of warning”) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 12, SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8
On this page
Who must submit monitoring reports, and why?
Facilities must submit environmental monitoring reports through environmental service providers, based on their permit conditions.Monitoring report guide, section 4
The reports summarise self-monitoring processes and results against assessment criteria. They also report on environmental management, inspections, audits and training.Monitoring journey, slide 2
The Environmental Law requires permit holders to give the competent authority periodic data and reports on emissions and pollutants from their activities.Env Law Art. 8(4)
The Permits regulation gives NCEC the task of requesting and reviewing self-monitoring reports during construction and operation.Permits reg. Art. 3(7)
How often must you report?
Frequency is set as a permit condition when NCEC reviews the permit application, based on the facility's environmental impact. The NCEC beneficiary journey lists quarterly, semi-annual, annual, or as NCEC decides.Monitoring journey, slide 4
The NCEC monitoring report guide lists weekly, half-monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual periods, as stated in the permit conditions.Monitoring report guide, section 2
The model permit conditions in the permit guide leave the reporting interval blank, to be set in each permit.Permit guide, Appendix 1, item 8
Reports cover the construction or operation period from the issue of the permit until the end of the permit period.Monitoring journey, slide 2
None of these documents sets a deadline for submitting a report after the end of the reporting period.
The two NCEC documents list different frequency options. Follow the frequency written in your own permit conditions and ask NCEC if the permit is silent.
What must the report contain?
The NCEC monitoring report guide sets out 13 required elements in its table.Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 1 to 13
| Title page | Provider, contractor, activity, permit number and category, period, frequency, owner |
|---|---|
| Executive summary | Each section, especially results |
| Performance and management | Activity, management, waste and licensed contractors, resources, incidents, audits |
| Monitoring objectives | Clear objectives tied to permit conditions |
| Monitoring method | Map, receiving environment, methods, variability factors |
| Results | Tables and graphs with units, limits, LOR, exceedances, trends |
| QA/QC | Samples, preservation, calibration, standards, photos |
| Discussion | Exceedances, trends, anomalies, statistics, non-conformances |
| Conclusions and actions | Objectives, compliance, harm, proposed actions |
| Certification | Provider and legally authorised representative |
| Abbreviations, references, appendices | Raw data, lab reports, QA/QC data |
Recommendations should explain how to reduce or prevent impacts, avoid repeat incidents, improve monitoring programmes and reach compliance.Monitoring report guide, section 4
Table sourceMonitoring report guide, Table, rows 1 to 13
How should maps and results be presented?
The monitoring method section needs a current map showing:Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
- Sampling locations, including control or reference locations.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
- Discharge and emission points and main infrastructure.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
- Sensitive environmental receptors.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
- A legend, scale bar and north arrow.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
Results should be shown in tables and graphs with date and time, alongside:Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- Units as set in NCEC regulations.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- Assessment criteria such as the NCEC limits.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- The analysis type, analytical methods and limit of reporting.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- Clear highlighting of every result above the assessment criteria.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- A summary of previous results to show trends.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
QA/QC checks cover correct sampling location, time and number, preservation by the approved method, calibration within the accepted range, analysis to national standards, and photos of sampling locations.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 7
How is the report submitted and reviewed?
Reports are uploaded on the NCEC permits and licences platform, from either the facility account or the service provider account:Monitoring journey, slide 14
- Open Services and enter the Environmental Monitoring Reports service.Monitoring journey, slide 13
- Search for the relevant environmental permit.Monitoring journey, slide 15
- Select Submit Requests, then Environmental Monitoring Reports.Monitoring journey, slides 16 and 17
- Add the report, follow the steps and use Track Request to finish the submission.Monitoring journey, slides 13 and 18
NCEC assesses the report against the permit conditions, using the limits in the executive regulations together with studies, plans and supporting documents.Monitoring journey, slide 10
Supporting documents used in the review include the EIA, audit studies, permit conditions, Environmental Management Plans and the monitoring report guide.Monitoring journey, slide 11
Non-compliance found in review falls into three groups: not meeting regulation requirements, not meeting permit conditions, and exceeding regulation limits.Monitoring journey, slide 12
Who can prepare the report, and how long must data be kept?
The NCEC beneficiary journey sets three requirements:Monitoring journey, slide 5
- Preparation by an NCEC licensed service provider.Monitoring journey, slide 5
- Monitoring, sampling and measurements by an NCEC licensed service provider.Monitoring journey, slide 5
- Following the NCEC monitoring report guide.Monitoring journey, slide 5
The permit guide separates licence activities. Measurements and laboratory analyses need a provider licensed for monitoring and analysis, while studies and environmental plans need their own licence activities.Permit guide, section 4(a) to (c)
The service provider must confirm the accuracy of the report. Where the report relates to a licence or approval, a person legally authorised to represent the holder must also confirm it.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 10
Retention periods differ by regulation:
- Point source operating, calibration and maintenance records: at least 5 years, which NCEC may extend by 5 years.Air reg. Art. 5, Fifth (1)(a)
- Water monitoring, measurement and analysis data: at least 5 years, which NCEC may extend by 5 years.Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (5)
- Noise monitoring data, where your permit requires noise monitoring: at least 3 years.Noise reg. Art. 8(2)
What can go wrong?
Reports are most often flagged for these reasons:
- The title page is missing the permit number, permit category or project contractor.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 1
- Results lack NCEC units, limits or limit of reporting, or exceedances are not highlighted and explained.Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 6 and 8
- There is no sampling map with scale and north arrow, no photos of sampling locations, or no calibration evidence.Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 5 and 7
- Waste data is given without details of the licensed contractors.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 3
- The report cites internal documents that NCEC does not have, without providing them.Monitoring report guide, Table, row 12
- Incorrect information in any report submitted to NCEC carries 1,000 to 100,000 riyals and referral to the Public Prosecution under the Permits regulation.Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), item 1
- Missing monitoring data, or not keeping it in the environmental registers, carries 20,000 riyals. The table marks this violation as one where the warning principle applies.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 12
- Not submitting periodic water reports when NCEC requests them carries 10,000 riyals for each NCEC notification.Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), item 14
Hills & Field prepares environmental monitoring reports for construction and operating permits, structured to the NCEC monitoring report guide.
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 33 references and the 9 regulation texts
- Monitoring report guide, section 4
- Monitoring journey, slide 2
- Env Law Art. 8(4)
- Permits reg. Art. 3(7)
- Monitoring journey, slide 4
- Monitoring report guide, section 2
- Permit guide, Appendix 1, item 8
- Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 1 to 13
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 5
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 6
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 7
- Monitoring journey, slide 14
- Monitoring journey, slide 13
- Monitoring journey, slide 15
- Monitoring journey, slides 16 and 17
- Monitoring journey, slides 13 and 18
- Monitoring journey, slide 10
- Monitoring journey, slide 11
- Monitoring journey, slide 12
- Monitoring journey, slide 5
- Permit guide, section 4(a) to (c)
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 10
- Air reg. Art. 5, Fifth (1)(a)
- Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (5)
- Noise reg. Art. 8(2)
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 1
- Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 6 and 8
- Monitoring report guide, Table, rows 5 and 7
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 3
- Monitoring report guide, Table, row 12
- Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), item 1
- Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8, Table 1, row 12
- Aqueous reg. Art. 9, Table 2 (2024), item 14
How to read these references 9 texts cited
- Monitoring report guide
- NCEC guidance manual for the environmental monitoring report (CP-02-M-01)
- Monitoring journey
- NCEC Beneficiary Journey: Environmental Monitoring Reports
- Noise reg.
- Executive Regulation for Noise
- Audit reg. (1446H)
- Executive Regulation for Environmental Inspections and Audits (1446H)
- 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).
- 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
- NCEC guidance manual for the environmental monitoring report (CP-02-M-01-V01)
- NCEC Beneficiary Journey: Environmental Monitoring Reports
- Environmental Law (Royal Decree M/165)
- Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate Activities
- NCEC guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (LO-1-M-005)
- Executive Regulation for Air Quality
- Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from Pollution
- Executive Regulation for Noise
- Executive Regulation for Environmental Inspections and Audits
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.