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What changed in Saudi environmental regulations from 2024 to 2026?

A dated change log of the environmental law amendment, new regulations and penalty tables published between December 2023 and August 2026, and what each one means for a project.

NCEC rules. 8 min read.

Short answer

Between December 2023 and August 2026, the gazette published an emergency preparedness regulation (19 January 2024), 13 decisions reissuing penalty tables (5 September 2024), new Violations, Audit and Service Providers regulations (8 November 2024, 22 November 2024 and 3 January 2025) and an updated marine and coastal regulation (21 August 2026). Council of Ministers Decision 406 also added the Red Sea coral reefs and turtles foundation to the Environmental Law's definition of competent authority. The 2024 permits, aqueous media, noise, ozone-depleting substances, soil and rehabilitation tables class every violation as serious, and the old 15 working day deadline to object to a fine is no longer in the Violations regulation. NCEC now decides audit studies within 30 days, not 30 working days.

Key terms used in this guide 15 terms
Category 2 activities
Activities expected to produce moderate environmental impact throughout the different stages of the activity. The impact may be alleviated and controlled, and does not largely exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثانية (meaning “activities of the second category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Second
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
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 audit study
The study that Category 2 and 3 activities, and any activity NCEC names in a reasoned decision, submit with the renewal of the permit to operate. It is prepared by an NCEC licensed provider using the structure in Appendix 1 of the Audit regulation. The 1446H regulation no longer defines the term. Arabic: دراسة التدقيق البيئي (meaning “environmental audit study”) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5 and Appendix 1
Environmental emergency
An environmental incident that poses an immediate danger causing or threatening serious environmental damage, a threat to people, or destruction of ecosystems or wildlife habitats, and that needs urgent intervention to stop it becoming a disaster. The Audit regulation (1446H) uses a shorter definition: any operational incident within an activity or facility that threatens environmental habitats or harms the environment. Arabic: الطوارئ البيئية (meaning “environmental emergencies”) Emergency reg. Art. 1, 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 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)
Environmental permit to operate
A document issued by the Center to a person granting him the permission to operate the activity. Arabic: التصريح البيئي للتشغيل (meaning “the environmental permit for operation”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental rehabilitation
Any procedure conducted on an environmentally degraded site or one that is affected by environmental damage or pollution, to restore its natural state of environmental balance, in accordance with the standards set by the competent authority. Arabic: إعادة التأهيل البيئي (meaning “environmental re-qualification (restoring to a fit state)”) Rehab 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
Remediation of polluted sites
Any procedure conducted on a polluted site to restore it to its natural state of environmental balance in accordance with the requirements of the competent authority. Arabic: معالجة المواقع الملوثة (meaning “treatment of polluted sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 1
Self plan (emergency preparedness and response)
Measures to manage an activity's or facility's internal environmental emergencies. They cover preparedness for the environmental risks that threaten it and the steps after an emergency or disaster, including rehabilitation of the affected areas. Arabic: الخطط الذاتية (meaning “the self plans (own plans)”) Emergency 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
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

All 49 terms in the NCEC glossary

On this page
  1. December 2023: who counts as the competent authority?
  2. January 2024: what did the emergency preparedness regulation add?
  3. September 2024: what did the 13 penalty table decisions change?
  4. November 2024: what changed in the Violations and Audit regulations?
  5. January 2025: what changed for environmental service providers?
  6. August 2026: what changed for marine and coastal works?
  7. What can go wrong?
  8. How do you check you are using the current text?

December 2023: who counts as the competent authority?

Council of Ministers Decision 406 dated 14/5/1445H, published on 8 December 2023, approved the statute of the General Foundation for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea.Decision 406 (1445H)

It added the Foundation to the definition of competent authority in Article 1 of the Environmental Law. The definition now reads: the Ministry, any national centre of the environmental sector, or the Foundation, each within its mandate as set by the regulations.Decision 406 (1445H)

It also directed the Minister to review the Environmental Law regulations within 180 days to align them with the new definition.Decision 406 (1445H)

In practice, Red Sea projects that affect coral reefs, turtles or nesting sites may need permits from the Foundation. Under the 1448H marine regulation, the Foundation approves EIAs referred to it by the National Center for Wildlife for such projects.Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 3, Fourth (4), (12)

January 2024: what did the emergency preparedness regulation add?

Ministerial Decision 5169012 dated 7/6/1445H approved the Executive Regulation on the controls for preparing and implementing preparedness and response plans for environmental emergencies and disasters. The decision says it applies from its own date, and it was published in the gazette on 19 January 2024.Decision 5169012 (1445H)

What it changes for a project:

  • A self emergency plan is required with an EIA, with an environmental audit study, or when NCEC asks for one.Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)
  • NCEC decides on a plan within 30 working days, and you can object to a rejection within 10 working days.Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (2), (4)
  • A readiness self-audit is due at least once a year, with the report within 30 days.Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (10)
  • Any environmental incident must be reported to NCEC immediately, whatever its size.Emergency reg. Art. 6(2)
  • A corrective action plan is due within 30 working days after an emergency ends, and NCEC may request bank guarantees.Emergency reg. Art. 8(2), Art. 9(1)

All 14 rows of its penalty table are classed as serious. Fines reach 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals for not containing leaks.Emergency reg. Table 1, row 14

September 2024: what did the 13 penalty table decisions change?

On 5 September 2024 (2/3/1446H) the gazette published 13 ministerial decisions that reissued penalty tables under Article 38(2) of the Environmental Law and High Order 32043. Each took effect on publication.Decisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)

The 13 decisions are:Decisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)

Permits regulation, Table 2Decision 15029124
Air quality, Table 3Decision 15029057
Aqueous media, Table 2Decision 15029619
Noise, Table 5Decision 15029617
Soil pollution, Table 1Decision 15029616
Rehabilitation and remediation, Table 1Decision 15029156
Ozone-depleting substances, Table 1Decision 15029611
Marine and coastal, Table 1 (replaced in 2026)Decision 15029095
Protected areas, Table 1Decision 15029613
Vegetation cover, definitions and Table 1Decision 15029612
Logging, definitions and Tables 1 and 2Decision 15029188
Wildlife protection, Tables 1 and 2Decision 15029614
Hunting terrestrial wildlife, Table 1Decision 15029615

What they change in practice:

  • The permits, aqueous media, noise, ozone-depleting substances, soil and rehabilitation tables class every violation as serious.Decisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)
  • The air quality table classes 36 of its 37 rows as serious. Row 11 (stack design, 50,000 riyals) has a blank type cell.Air reg. Table 3 (2024), row 11
  • The permits, air quality, aqueous media and noise tables keep the same fine amounts as the earlier editions. The soil and rehabilitation amounts are also unchanged.Decisions 15029124, 15029057, 15029619, 15029617, 15029616 and 15029156 (1446H)
  • The logging, protected areas, hunting and wildlife tables keep some non-serious or warning-first rows. The vegetation and logging decisions add definitions of serious and non-serious violations.Decisions 15029188, 15029613, 15029615, 15029614 and 15029612 (1446H)
  • The protected areas table now sets ranges of 10,000 to 20,000 riyals per tree (row 17) and 3,000 to 6,000 riyals for shrubs (row 18).Protected areas reg. Table 1 (2024), rows 17 and 18
Update your fine schedules

If your HSE procedures or contracts quote fines from the English editions of the regulations, check them against the reissued tables. The English editions have no serious or non-serious column.

Table sourceDecisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)

November 2024: what changed in the Violations and Audit regulations?

The Apprehension of Violations and Imposition of Penalties regulation was replaced by Decision 15101619 dated 26/4/1446H, in force from 8 November 2024. What it changes for a project:Decision 15101619 (1446H)

  • Objections to fines now follow the Rules and Procedures for the Work of the Committees reviewing violations of the Environmental Law. The 15 working day objection deadline, the 60 day silence rule and the 60 day court deadline are no longer in the regulation.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 6
  • The competent authority imposes fines up to 100,000 riyals and the committee imposes higher fines. The Minister or board chair approves fines above 5,000,000 riyals or cancellation.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, First (3), (5)
  • Compensation is due within 90 days of notice, up from 60 days.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 5(2)
  • Non-Saudi violators are referred to the regional Emirate to consider deportation.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, Fourth

The Environmental Inspections and Audits regulation was replaced by Decision 15116190 dated 12/5/1446H, in force from 22 November 2024. What it changes for a project:Decision 15116190 (1446H)

  • Category 2 and 3 activities submit an audit study with the application to renew the permit to operate. NCEC can also require one from any category by a reasoned decision.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, First (a), (b) and Second (1)
  • NCEC decides on an audit study within 30 days, not 30 working days, and on a revised study within 30 days. It may extend the review by up to 15 days.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (2), (3)
  • Missing monitoring data (Table 1 row 12) is fined 20,000 riyals and is the only row in the 1446H table subject to the warning principle. The other 12 rows are classed as serious.Audit reg. (1446H) Table 1, row 12
  • New rules in Article 8 cover how serious fines are set, the duty to correct and compensate, and a grace period after voluntary disclosure.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8(2) to (4)

January 2025: what changed for environmental service providers?

The Environmental Service Providers regulation was replaced by Decision 15150091 dated 22/6/1446H, in force from 3 January 2025. It replaces the 1442H regulation issued by Decision 582979/1/1442.Decision 15150091 (1446H)

What it changes for clients and consultants:

  • There are now 17 service types instead of 14. Laboratory analyses are item 14 and emergency response is item 15.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4
  • A provider licence is valid for up to 3 years depending on activity size and classification, instead of a flat 3 years.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7)
  • The competent authority, such as NCEC, can now cancel a provider licence at any time if the provider no longer meets the requirements for its permitted services. The 1442H text allowed cancellation only for false or forged documents or a disqualifying penalty.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 7(5)
  • As under the 1442H text, a provider still pays for redoing work when the damage came from lack of due care or unqualified staff.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3), (6)
  • Providers may not publish environmental data without approval, with fines of 5,000 to 1,000,000 riyals.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(12) and Table 1, row 13

August 2026: what changed for marine and coastal works?

Decision 481531028 dated 20/2/1448H updated the marine and coastal regulation, which applies from its publication on 21 August 2026. It replaces the 1443H regulation and the 2024 marine penalty table issued by Decision 15029095.Decision 481531028 (1448H)

What it changes for a project:

  • Unlicensed coastal activities under Article 7 are now non-serious, with a 30 day warning and then 50,000 to 200,000, 200,000 to 500,000 and 500,000 to 2,000,000 riyals for first, second and third offences.Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 43
  • The 2024 table had classed unlicensed coastal activities as serious at 5,000 to 200,000 riyals.Marine reg. Table 1 (2024), row 37
  • Fines for non-serious violations by businesses are scaled from 25 to 100 percent by size.Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 8(1)(c) and Table 2
  • Not notifying NCEC immediately of a spill moves to row 35 (it was row 31) and stays at 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals.Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 35
  • Damage to any coral species is fined from 5,000 riyals up to 200,000 riyals per cubic metre.Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 17 and Table 3, row 7
  • Licence applications are decided within 30 working days, plus up to 10.Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Second (2)
  • Publishing marine or coastal data, reports or studies needs the Ministry's written approval. Repeat violations within one year double, and voluntary disclosure can earn a grace period.Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Fifth (8) and Art. 8(1)(f), (h)

What can go wrong?

The main risk is relying on an old copy of a regulation that has since been replaced.

What can go wrong
  • As of 11 October 2026, NCEC's own website still hosted the 1442H service providers file, which Decision 15150091 replaced from 3 January 2025. Check service types and licence terms against the 1446H text.Decision 15150091 (1446H)
  • The 1442H Violations regulation gives a 15 working day deadline to object to a fine. The 1446H text no longer contains it and refers to the committee rules, so check those rules as soon as you receive a penalty decision.Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 6
  • The 1442H Audit regulation says NCEC decides within 30 working days. The 1446H text says 30 days, so the review period is shorter than older guidance suggests.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (2)
  • Assuming every provider licence runs a full 3 years can be wrong. Under the 1446H text it is up to 3 years by size and classification, so check the expiry date on the certificate.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7)
  • English copies of the Environmental Law still show the old definition of competent authority, without the coral reefs and turtles foundation.Env Law Art. 1
  • A copy of the 1443H marine regulation or the 2024 marine table shows the old row numbers for unlicensed coastal works (row 37) and spill notification (row 31). It also shows the old serious classification and 5,000 to 200,000 riyal fine for unlicensed coastal works. The spill notification fine of 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals is unchanged.Marine reg. Table 1 (2024), rows 31 and 37, and Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, rows 35 and 43
  • The NCEC emergency plan guideline lists different trigger cases from the regulation and leaves out the audit study case. Where they differ, follow the regulation.Emergency plan guideline, p. 13
  • Older English editions of the permits, air quality, aqueous media and noise regulations have no serious or non-serious column, so they do not show how each violation is now classed.Decisions 15029124, 15029057, 15029619, 15029617 (1446H)

How do you check you are using the current text?

Before you rely on a regulation for a permit, a study or a contract:

  • Check the decision number and gazette date on your copy against this log.
  • Use the 1446H Violations, Audit and Service Providers texts, not the 1442H versions.Decisions 15101619, 15116190 and 15150091 (1446H)
  • Use the 1448H marine regulation and its Tables 1 to 3 for any coastal work.Decision 481531028 (1448H)
  • Use the 2024 tables for fines under the permits, air quality, aqueous media, noise, soil, rehabilitation and ozone-depleting substances regulations.Decisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)
  • For emergency plans, follow the regulation where the NCEC guideline differs.Emergency plan guideline, p. 5
Not sure your permits and studies follow the current regulations?

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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 45 references and the 9 regulation texts
  1. Decision 406 (1445H)
  2. Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 3, Fourth (4), (12)
  3. Decision 5169012 (1445H)
  4. Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)
  5. Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (2), (4)
  6. Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (10)
  7. Emergency reg. Art. 6(2)
  8. Emergency reg. Art. 8(2), Art. 9(1)
  9. Emergency reg. Table 1, row 14
  10. Decisions 15029057 to 15029619 (1446H)
  11. Air reg. Table 3 (2024), row 11
  12. Decisions 15029124, 15029057, 15029619, 15029617, 15029616 and 15029156 (1446H)
  13. Decisions 15029188, 15029613, 15029615, 15029614 and 15029612 (1446H)
  14. Protected areas reg. Table 1 (2024), rows 17 and 18
  15. Decision 15101619 (1446H)
  16. Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 6
  17. Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, First (3), (5)
  18. Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 5(2)
  19. Violations reg. (1446H) Art. 4, Fourth
  20. Decision 15116190 (1446H)
  21. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, First (a), (b) and Second (1)
  22. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (2), (3)
  23. Audit reg. (1446H) Table 1, row 12
  24. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 8(2) to (4)
  25. Decision 15150091 (1446H)
  26. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4
  27. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7)
  28. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 7(5)
  29. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3), (6)
  30. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(12) and Table 1, row 13
  31. Decision 481531028 (1448H)
  32. Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 43
  33. Marine reg. Table 1 (2024), row 37
  34. Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 8(1)(c) and Table 2
  35. Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 35
  36. Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 17 and Table 3, row 7
  37. Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Second (2)
  38. Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Fifth (8) and Art. 8(1)(f), (h)
  39. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (2)
  40. Env Law Art. 1
  41. Marine reg. Table 1 (2024), rows 31 and 37, and Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, rows 35 and 43
  42. Emergency plan guideline, p. 13
  43. Decisions 15029124, 15029057, 15029619, 15029617 (1446H)
  44. Decisions 15101619, 15116190 and 15150091 (1446H)
  45. Emergency plan guideline, p. 5
How to read these references 10 texts 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

  • Council of Ministers Decision 406 dated 14/5/1445H approving the statute of the General Foundation for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea and amending the Environmental Law definition of competent authority
  • Executive Regulation on the Controls for Preparing and Implementing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and Disasters, Ministerial Decision 5169012 dated 7/6/1445H
  • Ministerial Decisions 15029057, 15029095, 15029124, 15029156 and 15029188 dated 4/2/1446H, and 15029611, 15029612, 15029613, 15029614, 15029615, 15029616, 15029617 and 15029619 dated 5/2/1446H, amending the penalty tables of the Environmental Law executive regulations (Umm Al-Qura, 5 September 2024)
  • Executive Regulation for Apprehension of Violations and Imposition of Penalties (1446H), Ministerial Decision 15101619 dated 26/4/1446H
  • Executive Regulation for Environmental Inspections and Audits (1446H), Ministerial Decision 15116190 dated 12/5/1446H
  • Executive Regulation for Environmental Service Providers (1446H), Ministerial Decision 15150091 dated 22/6/1446H
  • Executive Regulation for the Sustainable Management of the Marine and Coastal Environment (1448H update), Ministerial Decision 481531028 dated 20/2/1448H
  • Environmental Law, Royal Decree M/165 dated 19/11/1441H
  • NCEC Environmental Guidelines for Preparing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and Disasters, document EP-M-45-V01

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.