Obtaining an environmental permit is the first and essential step for any facility or project seeking to comply with environmental regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not just a routine procedure, but a real guarantee of project sustainability and protection from legal and environmental risks. With increasing awareness of sustainable development and the application of environmental compliance standards, Obtaining an environmental permit has become a mandatory requirement before starting any industrial or service activity that has an impact on the environment.
At the Sustainable Resources Office for Environmental Consulting, we help you with how to obtain an environmental permit through well-studied and methodical steps that ensure speed of completion and accuracy of execution step by step until your environmental permit is issued by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) whether you need an environmental permit for new facilities, or wish to renew the environmental permit for an existing project, our team of specialists handles the preparation of environmental files, fulfillment of environmental permit requirements, and follow-up of the NCEC procedures until the final permit is issued.
Contact us to help you Obtaining an environmental permit for your company or facility from the Sustainable Resources Office for Environmental Consulting, certified in Saudi Arabia, or call us at+966590721313 as we are certified by the National Center for Environmental Compliance and fromHuman Resources and Social Development and from the Ministry of Commerce to provide specialized services in the field of environment and sustainability.
What is an Environmental Permit?
An Obtaining an environmental permit is an official approval issued by the competent authority, such as the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), granted to projects and facilities after ensuring their commitment to approved environmental standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a fundamental condition for operating any activity that may have a direct or indirect environmental impact.
Obtaining an environmental permitt aims to ensure the management of industrial or service activities in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, reduce pollution, and protect natural resources. The requirements for Obtaining an environmental permit for facilities vary according to the environmental category of the activity; Category (1), for example, is considered low impact and requires simplified procedures, while higher categories require detailed environmental impact assessment studies.
At the Sustainable Resources Office, we provide integrated services to facilitate how to Obtaining an environmental permit, starting from preparing technical studies and reports to submitting the application through official platforms, ensuring speed of completion and full compliance with the requirements of the competent authorities.
Why is Obtaining an environmental permit important?
The importance of Obtaining an environmental permit lies in it being the cornerstone for ensuring the sustainability of any project within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it aims to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental protection. Obtaining an environmental permit is not just an administrative procedure, but a formal commitment that ensures the facility practices its activities according to the environmental regulations and standards approved by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC).
Obtaining an Obtaining an environmental permit for facilities protects project owners from fines and penalties resulting from operating without a permit, and enhances the trust of government agencies and investors in the facility’s commitment to its environmental responsibility. It also helps reduce emissions and pollution, and manages waste and water in a safe manner that ensures the safety of the surrounding environment and workers alike.
In addition, compliance with the steps for obtaining an environmental permit increases operational efficiency and improves the image of the facility before the community. It also contributes to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on sustainable development and reducing the environmental impact of industrial and service activities.
Through the Sustainable Resources Office, you can ensure your facility’s compliance with all environmental permit requirements, as we provide specialized solutions and consultations that help you achieve full environmental compliance in a professional and smooth manner.
When is an Obtaining an environmental permit required?
An environmental permit is required in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when implementing or operating any activity that is likely to have an environmental impact, whether the project is new or existing and undergoing expansion or modification. Obtaining an environmental permit for facilities is a fundamental condition before starting actual operation to ensure compliance with the regulations and standards approved by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC).
An environmental permit must be obtained in the following cases:
- When establishing a new project in any industrial or service sector that may result in emissions, waste, or consumption of natural resources.
- When expanding current activity or changing the nature of operational processes.
- When renewing the environmental permit after its expiration to ensure continued compliance.
- When moving the project to a new location or restarting a halted facility.
Types of Environmental Categories and Permits in Saudi Arabia
Activities and projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are divided into environmental categories according to their level of impact on the environment, in order to accurately determine the type of environmental permit and the requirements for each category. This classification is supervised by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) with the aim of ensuring that each facility complies with the environmental standards appropriate for the size of its activity.
Below are the most prominent types of environmental categories and permits in Saudi Arabia:
- Category I – Low environmental impact
- Category II – Medium environmental impact
- Category III – High environmental impact
This classification contributes to determining the appropriate steps for Obtaining an environmental permit for each project, and ensuring the application of safety and environmental sustainability requirements from the early stages of planning.
At the Sustainable Resources Office, we help you accurately determine the environmental category under which your activity falls, and prepare all requirements for obtaining an environmental permit in accordance with official regulations, to avoid delays or rejection of the application and ensure smooth project approval.
Who is the competent authority for issuing the environmental permit?
The official body responsible for issuing environmental permits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), which is the government agency concerned with monitoring compliance with environmental systems and standards for all facilities and projects within the Kingdom. There are many government agencies such as:
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
- General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection (formerly).
- Relevant sectoral authorities.
- Licensed environmental consulting entities.
What documents are required for an environmental permit?
The documents required to obtain an environmental permit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia vary according to the type of activity and the environmental category of the project, but there is a set of basic documents that must be submitted when obtaining an environmental permit through the environmental licensing platform of the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), which include the following:
- Environmental permit application form via the electronic platform.
- Commercial register or legal license of the facility.
- Geographical project site with accurate coordinate maps.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study or a simplified environmental report depending on the environmental category.
- Environmental Management Plan (EMP) explaining emission control and waste management mechanisms.
- Expected emissions data (air – water – noise – waste).
- Waste Management Plan for solid and liquid waste.
- Environmental prevention and emergency measures (such as treatment systems, filters, leakage precautions).
- Licenses from relevant authorities such as municipal, water, or industrial licenses (if necessary).
- Environmental certificates or technical reports from a licensed consulting entity within the Kingdom.
At the Sustainable Resources Office, we provide an integrated service for preparing and collecting all environmental permit requirements accurately, with a review of files before submission to ensure acceptance of the application and accelerate the process for approving the environmental permit for facilities without delay.
Does every project need an environmental permit?
Environmental permit requirements vary depending on the type of activity and the environmental category of the project, but there is a set of basic documents required in most cases when obtaining an environmental permit.
Is the renewal of the environmental permit required? And what is the duration for which the permit is granted?
Yes, the environmental permit is required to be renewed upon its expiration, which is usually from 3 to 5 years depending on the type of activity and the environmental category of the facility.
What are the procedures after permit rejection or a request for modifications from the Center?
The application is resubmitted after correcting the notes or fulfilling the requirements specified by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), and a re-evaluation can be conducted after completing the deficiencies.
What are the penalties and risks of operating without a permit or violating the permit conditions?
Operating a facility without a permit or in violation of its conditions leads to financial fines, temporary or permanent suspension of activity, and withdrawal of the environmental license by the competent authority.
Are there fees charged by the competent authorities for the permit?
Yes, there are fees for the environmental permit that vary according to the type of activity, the environmental category, and the scope of the required study (environmental impact or general environmental compliance).
Can the permit be modified after issuance if the facility’s conditions change?
Yes, the environmental permit can be modified in the event of a change in activity, production capacity, location, or operating technologies, provided that the National Center is notified and the environmental assessment is reviewed.
Is it required that the environmental study be from a licensed entity inside Saudi Arabia?
Yes, the environmental study must be prepared by an environmental consulting office licensed by the National Center for Environmental Compliance.
Is there periodic monitoring after the permit is issued? And what is the follow-up mechanism?
Yes, periodic inspection visits are carried out and periodic environmental compliance reports submitted by the facility are reviewed to ensure the continued application of environmental standards.
Can a consultancy company be contracted to prepare the environmental file?
Yes, it is recommended to contract with a licensed environmental consultancy company to prepare the environmental file and environmental impact assessment study according to the requirements of the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), to ensure data accuracy and speed of approval.
What is the cost of preparing an environmental impact assessment study?
The cost of preparing an environmental impact assessment study varies according to the project size, but at the Sustainable Resources Office, we work to provide the environmental impact assessment study at the best price.
What is the relationship of the environmental permit with ISO certificates, such as ISO 14001?
The ISO 14001 certificate is concerned with the environmental management system within the facility, while the environmental permit is a regulatory approval from the government entity.
Possessing the ISO 14001 certificate helps the facility improve environmental performance and facilitates the process of obtaining or renewing an environmental permit.
Does the environmental permit cover assets and the site only, or does it include operations and processing?
The environmental permit covers all environmental aspects of the project, including the site, operational processes, emissions, and waste management.
What happens in the case of changing the project’s geographical location?
The project in this case is considered a new activity and requires a new environmental permit after evaluating the environmental impact of the new site.
Tips to facilitate obtaining environmental permits
- Contracting with an approved environmental consulting office such as the Sustainable Resources Office to prepare the study and technical file.
- Providing accurate data about the activity, site, and operational processes.
- Full commitment to environmental requirements from the early planning stages of the project.
- Following up on the application electronically through the National Center’s platform and responding quickly to any notes.
- Maintaining an updated environmental record that includes periodic monitoring and compliance reports.
For more services we provide at the Sustainable Resources Office in Saudi Arabia:
Preparing a certified carbon footprint report for your organization
Preparing certified sustainability and governance reports in Saudi Arabia
Preparing a certified environmental management plan in Saudi Arabia
Evaluating the existing environmental status of your organization in Saudi Arabia
Rehabilitation plan for degraded sites in Saudi Arabia
Preparing certified sustainability and governance reports in Saudi Arabia