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Who is allowed to prepare my EIA, EMP or monitoring report?

The NCEC licensing rules for environmental service providers, the separate service types, licence validity and your responsibility for choosing a licensed provider.

NCEC rules. 6 min read.

Short answer

Only a service provider licensed by NCEC may prepare EIAs, plans and audits or carry out monitoring and laboratory work, and the licence must cover the specific service type. The 1446H service providers regulation lists 17 service types, with studies, plans, auditing, monitoring and laboratory analyses as separate types. A licence is valid for up to 3 years, depending on the size of the provider's activity and its classification, and renewal must be filed at least 3 months before expiry. You are responsible for choosing a provider from the approved list, and using an unlicensed provider under the air quality regulation carries a 50,000 riyal fine.

Key terms used in this guide 18 terms
Category 1 activities
Activities expected to produce low environmental impact that does not exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الأولى (meaning “activities of the first category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), First
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
Category 3 activities
Activities expected to produce significant environmental, social and economic impact, which may exceed the perimeter of the activity's site and adversely affect the sustainability of environmentally sensitive areas and receptors. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثالثة (meaning “activities of the third category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Third
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 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 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
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
Rehabilitation plan
Plan that must be submitted to NCEC for certain Category 1 activities designated at classification, as part of a Category 2 or 3 EIA, whenever an incident requires rehabilitation of the damaged site, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة إعادة التأهيل البيئي للمواقع المتدهورة (meaning “plan for the environmental rehabilitation of degraded sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (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
Remediation plan
Plan that must be developed and submitted to NCEC when any environmental pollution incident occurs while the activity is being set up, operated or closed, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة معالجة المواقع الملوثة (meaning “plan for treating polluted sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, Second (1)
Scoping report
Report detailing the scope of work of the environmental impact assessment of category 3 activities. Arabic: تقرير نطاق دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “report of the scope of the environmental impact assessment study”) 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
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. Does the provider need an NCEC licence?
  2. Which service types exist?
  3. How long is a provider licence valid?
  4. Who is responsible for checking the provider?
  5. Can NCEC have a study redone?
  6. Can an individual specialist prepare my study?
  7. Who may publish the study data?
  8. Which provider violations are serious?
  9. What can go wrong?
  10. Checklist before you appoint a consultant

Does the provider need an NCEC licence?

Yes. Persons may not practise any of the environmental service activities listed in the regulation without first obtaining an environmental licence from the competent authority, which the regulation defines as the Ministry, a national environment centre or the Red Sea coral reef and turtle foundation, each within its own remit.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Art. 6(1)

The permits regulation requires all EIAs, including analyses, tests and measurements, to be done by a service provider licensed by NCEC.Permits reg. Art. 3(13)

Specific rules repeat the requirement for each deliverable:

  • Category 1 management plans and rehabilitation plans.Permits reg. Table 1
  • Category 2 EIAs, Category 3 scoping reports and Category 3 EIAs.Permits reg. Art. 7(2) and Art. 8
  • Environmental audit studies, through a provider authorised by NCEC.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (1)
  • Rehabilitation and remediation plans, with exceptional acceptance of highly expert entities approved by NCEC.Rehab reg. Art. 5, Third
  • Environmental monitoring reports, which facilities submit through environmental service providers.Monitoring report guide, section 4
  • Stack analyses and measurements under the air quality regulation.Air reg. Art. 5, Fourth (7)

A licence is not granted to anyone who has received a Sharia penalty for a breach of trust and honour. A licence already granted is cancelled if the penalty comes after it.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(2)

The provider must disclose any earlier penalties or violations that bar it from working in the field.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(2)

Which service types exist?

The 1446H service providers regulation classifies environmental services into 17 types, including:SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4

  • Environmental studies and consultancy.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(1)
  • Preparation of environmental plans, such as management, remediation and rehabilitation plans.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(2)
  • Environmental inspection and auditing.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(4)
  • Monitoring the quality of environmental media and pollution sources.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(5)
  • Implementation of remediation and rehabilitation plans.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(7)
  • Laboratory analyses.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(14)

The certificate attached to each licence lists the service types and classification category the provider holds.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(8)

The NCEC permit guide matches each deliverable to a licence activity. Studies need the studies and consultancy activity, measurements need the monitoring and laboratory activity, and plans need the environmental plans activity.Permit guide, section 4(a) to (c)

How long is a provider licence valid?

A provider licence is valid for up to 3 years, set according to the size of the provider's activity and its classification. A renewal application must be filed at least 3 months before expiry.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7) and (10)

A renewed licence runs from the expiry date of the previous one. NCEC may refuse renewal with reasons and remove the provider from its register.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(11) and (12)

NCEC may also cancel the licence, reclassify a provider or remove service types at any time if requirements are no longer met. The provider must tell its clients of any change to its classification or service types.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 7(5) and (7)

Who is responsible for checking the provider?

You are. The regulation states that the person bears responsibility for selecting the service provider from the list approved by the competent authority.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(7)

NCEC publishes an updated list of licensed providers, with their classification and service types, on its website.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 8(2)

An EIA must attach the provider's environmental licence, the technical staff who prepared it and an undertaking on the correctness of all data.EIA guide, p. 13

Check the service type, not just the name

Confirm on the NCEC list that the firm holds the exact service type you need, and that its licence stays valid for the life of your project.

Can NCEC have a study redone?

NCEC may examine the correctness, accuracy and neutrality of a provider's studies at any time, whether the project is under study, under execution or completed.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 10

NCEC may assign another service provider to redo the studies or laboratory analyses, or part of them. The original provider bears the cost if it is proven that environmental damage resulted from its lack of due care or from not using competent specialists.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3) and (6)

The provider is legally responsible for the correctness and quality of its studies and results. It bears full liability for environmental damage caused by insufficient care or unqualified staff.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3)

A provider whose licence is cancelled for forged, fabricated or falsified documents, or for deliberately false information in reports, records and data, may not apply again, even under another name. It must pay all costs of the material and environmental damage caused, including refunding all the fees it received for the services.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(4)

Legal liability continues to rest on the legal owner of the provider's establishment and its partners if the establishment is dissolved or cancelled.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(8)

Can an individual specialist prepare my study?

NCEC's functions include professional accreditation of people working in the environment sector.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 3(9)

Under the NCEC accreditation guide, an individual Environmental Specialist licence covers only Category 1 management plans, Category 1 consultancy and Category 1 inspection reports.Accreditation guide, Art. 3

The individual licence is open to Saudi nationals only, costs 200 riyals per year and lasts 3 years.Accreditation guide, Art. 1(1) and Art. 3

Category 2 and 3 EIAs must be prepared through a licensed service provider.Permits reg. Art. 7(2) and Art. 8

Who may publish the study data?

NCEC may require digital copies of the studies a licensed provider carries out, together with the data, information, maps and other material it specifies.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(11)

No person may publish any data, information or studies on the quality of environmental media without NCEC approval or a licence. The wording covers all persons, not only providers.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(12)

Publishing data on environmental media quality without approval or a licence is a serious violation. The fine is 5,000 to 1,000,000 riyals, and the licence may also be cancelled as the case may be. A footnote to the table leaves that to the Violations Review Committees.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 13

The Air Quality regulation has its own fine of 50,000 to 1,000,000 riyals for publishing air quality data or indicators without NCEC approval.Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 6

The Marine regulation (1448H) bans publishing any data, reports or studies on the marine and coastal environment without written approval from the Ministry.Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Fifth (8)

Agree publication rights in the contract

State in the consultancy contract that monitoring data and study results on environmental quality are not published, including in marketing material or papers, without the approval the regulations require.

Which provider violations are serious?

The type of violation column in the SP penalty table marks five rows 'the warning principle applies'. These are services without a licence or outside it, services after the licence expires, not keeping records and data, not providing records and data to NCEC, and not meeting the licence controls and conditions.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8

Every other row is marked serious. This includes forged documents, unscientific methods, unqualified staff, undisclosed conflicts of interest, incorrect information, damage caused by the provider's work and publishing environmental data without approval.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 2, 6, 7 and 9 to 13

The table does not explain what the warning principle involves.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1

Three of these rows carry these amounts:SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 4 to 6

  • Not keeping records and data as the regulation requires: 1,000 to 20,000 riyals, by the importance of the data.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 4
  • Not providing records and data to NCEC on request or when due: 3,000 to 5,000 riyals.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 5
  • Not providing services by correct and modern scientific methods: 5,000 to 20,000 riyals, by the number and types of services.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 6

What can go wrong?

Choosing the wrong provider can cost you time, money and your study.

What can go wrong
  • Using an unlicensed provider for air measurements carries a fine of 50,000 riyals, plus rectification.Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), item 2
  • The 1446H amendment of the air penalty table kept that amount and classed the violation as serious.Decision 15029057 (1446H)
  • Submitting an audit study prepared by an unauthorised provider is prohibited. The audit penalty table has no specific fine line for it.Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 7(7)
  • Providing services not covered by the licence is a violation under the service providers regulation, so a firm licensed only for studies should not do your sampling.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, item 1
  • Incorrect information in any study submitted to NCEC can lead to a fine of 1,000 to 100,000 riyals and referral to the public prosecution.Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), item 1
  • A provider found to have submitted forged documents or deliberately false information loses its licence and is struck off the register. In practice, work in progress then has to move to another provider.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(4)
  • The consultant and the owner share responsibility for disclosing environmental risks in the EIA.Permit guide, section 1(f)

Checklist before you appoint a consultant

Before you sign the contract, check these points:

  • The firm appears on NCEC's published provider list.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 8(2)
  • Each service type you need appears on its certificate.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(8)
  • The licence expiry date fits your project programme.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7)
  • The laboratory doing analyses holds the laboratory analyses service type.SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(14)
Need a licensed provider for your study or monitoring?

Hills & Field is an NCEC licensed environmental consultancy that prepares EIAs, plans, audits and monitoring reports for submission to NCEC.

Our service: Classification and permit to establish

Talk to our team

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 52 references and the 10 regulation texts
  1. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Art. 6(1)
  2. Permits reg. Art. 3(13)
  3. Permits reg. Table 1
  4. Permits reg. Art. 7(2) and Art. 8
  5. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5, Second (1)
  6. Rehab reg. Art. 5, Third
  7. Monitoring report guide, section 4
  8. Air reg. Art. 5, Fourth (7)
  9. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(2)
  10. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(2)
  11. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4
  12. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(1)
  13. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(2)
  14. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(4)
  15. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(5)
  16. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(7)
  17. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(14)
  18. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(8)
  19. Permit guide, section 4(a) to (c)
  20. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7) and (10)
  21. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(11) and (12)
  22. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 7(5) and (7)
  23. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(7)
  24. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 8(2)
  25. EIA guide, p. 13
  26. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 10
  27. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3) and (6)
  28. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(3)
  29. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(4)
  30. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 11(8)
  31. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 3(9)
  32. Accreditation guide, Art. 3
  33. Accreditation guide, Art. 1(1) and Art. 3
  34. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(11)
  35. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 9(12)
  36. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 13
  37. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), row 6
  38. Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 7, Fifth (8)
  39. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8
  40. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 2, 6, 7 and 9 to 13
  41. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1
  42. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, rows 4 to 6
  43. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 4
  44. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 5
  45. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, row 6
  46. Air reg. Art. 8, Table 3 (2024), item 2
  47. Decision 15029057 (1446H)
  48. Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 7(7)
  49. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 12, Table 1, item 1
  50. Permits reg. Art. 11, Table 2 (2024), item 1
  51. Permit guide, section 1(f)
  52. SP reg. (1446H) Art. 6(7)
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

  • Executive Regulation for Environmental Service Providers (Ministerial Decision 1442/1/582979)
  • Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate Activities
  • Executive Regulation for Environmental Inspections and Audits
  • Executive Regulation for Air Quality
  • Executive Regulations for the Environmental Rehabilitation of Degraded Sites and Remediation of Polluted Sites
  • A guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (NCEC, LO-1-M-005)
  • Environmental Guidelines for Procedures in Preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (NCEC, EP-M-43)
  • Environmental Monitoring Report Guidelines (NCEC, CP-02-M-01)
  • Guide to Professional Accreditation Licensing Requirements for Individuals (NCEC, CP-1-M-08)
  • Ministerial Decision 15029057 (1446H) 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.