The Center's service cards show that an environmental audit study is among the requirements for the operating permit for Categories Two and Three, and for renewing it for those categories. Understanding these requirements helps you identify the study you need and choose the right service provider.
What is an environmental audit?
An environmental audit relates to verifying how far establishments comply with environmental laws and standards. The Center offers a service for licensing entities that specialise in environmental inspection and audit work for this purpose.
This guide focuses on the environmental audit study required within operating permit procedures, the documents linked to it, and the licence scope of the entity that prepares it.
When does an establishment need an environmental audit study?
The required technical document depends on the activity category and the procedure:
- Issuing an operating permit — Category One: an environmental management plan prepared by a service provider licensed by the Center.
- Issuing an operating permit — Category Two: a Category Two environmental audit study prepared by a service provider licensed by the Center.
- Issuing an operating permit — Category Three: a Category Three environmental audit study prepared by a service provider licensed by the Center.
- Renewing the operating permit — Categories Two and Three: an environmental audit study, with the environmental rehabilitation plan updated and included in the study.
These requirements are taken from the service cards; any additional requirements the Center sets for each application must still be met.
What must accompany an operating permit application for Categories Two and Three?
The two service cards set out three core elements:
- An environmental audit study matching the activity category, prepared by a service provider licensed by the Center.
- An undertaking to implement the study's findings and recommendations.
- Any other requirements the Center deems necessary.
So the application is not limited to attaching the study; it also includes committing to its findings and recommendations and meeting any additional requirements.
What are the environmental audit requirements when renewing the permit?
For Categories Two and Three, the renewal card requires an environmental audit study with the environmental rehabilitation plan updated within it.
The published renewal attachments include:
- The existing operating permit.
- The Category Two or Three environmental audit study.
- The undertaking to implement the study's findings and recommendations.
- Previous periodic monitoring reports.
- Any additional requirements set by the Center.
For Category One, the renewal card lists an updated environmental management plan among the attachments, and the technical requirements link updating the operating plan to a change at the establishment.
How do you choose a service provider to prepare the study?
The operating permit cards confirm that the study is prepared by a service provider licensed by the Center. When choosing a consultancy, check its licence scope: the environmental studies and consulting licence service shows that permissions differ by the entity's classification:
- Classification A: Category Two and Three activities.
- Classification B: Category Two activities, and Category Three projects located within industrial cities and similar areas.
- Classification C: Category Two projects located within industrial cities and similar areas.
The consultancy's letter classification is different from the activity's Category One, Two and Three classification. When contracting, ask for proof that the licence scope covers the study required for your establishment and its location.
How is an application including the environmental audit study submitted?
According to the steps of the Category Three operating permit service, the application is submitted online by:
- Signing in to the permits and licences platform.
- Choosing the service.
- Filling in the form.
- Attaching the documents.
- Submitting the application.
The service you choose depends on the procedure your establishment needs, such as issuing the operating permit; the study is one of the application's documents.
Frequently asked questions about environmental audits
Is an environmental audit study the same as an Environmental Impact Assessment?
They are two different documents in the service cards: the Category Two construction permit service mentions an Environmental Impact Assessment, while the Category Two operating permit service mentions an environmental audit study. You should therefore prepare the document required for the specific service.
Is there a fixed time for preparing an environmental audit study?
The service cards referred to do not set a standard contractual time for a service provider to prepare the study. Distinguish between the time to prepare it and the time to process the permit application: the Category Three operating permit card shows a service time of 30 working days, which is not the study preparation time.
How much does an environmental audit study cost?
The sources referred to do not include standard pricing for consultancies' fees for preparing the study. To get comparable quotations, specify the activity category, the purpose of the study, the required deliverables, and whether the offer covers addressing review comments. This is advice for organising the contract, not a list of additional regulatory requirements.
Request an environmental audit service through Beati
If your establishment needs an environmental audit study, you can submit a service request through Beati, stating the activity category and the purpose of the study. Before choosing a provider, check its licence scope and review the proposed deliverables, fees and timeline.
Official sources
Sources last reviewed on 12 October 2026. This guide presents the requirements in the service cards referred to; it does not cover every case in which the Center may require an environmental audit or every component of the technical study.
- Category One operating permit (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Category Two operating permit (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Category Three operating permit (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Operating permit renewal (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Environmental studies and consulting licence (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Environmental inspection and audit licence (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
- Category Two construction permit (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)
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