What is an environmental permit?
An environmental permit is one of the regulatory procedures used to verify that activities and projects comply with the environmental requirements approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The National Center for Environmental Compliance oversees the issuance of environmental permits for establishments, in accordance with the Environment Law and its implementing regulations.
The technical requirements for a permit vary according to the nature of the activity, its environmental classification and the stage the project is in.
Construction vs. operating environmental permits
Construction environmental permit: relates to activities and projects in the construction stage, and aims to verify that the relevant environmental requirements are met before the project is carried out.
Operating environmental permit: relates to the operating stage of the activity; its requirements depend on the activity's environmental category and the establishment's status.
The competent authority provides e-services for issuing permits, alongside other services including renewal, modification and adding activities.
Which documents are required?
There is no single list that applies to all establishments; the documents change according to the activity's classification and the type of request.
Examples published by the Center include:
- An Environmental Management Plan for Category One, according to the service requirements.
- An Environmental Impact Assessment for Category Two and Three construction activities, according to the requirements set for each category.
- An undertaking to implement the findings and recommendations of the plans or studies, where the service requires it.
- Any additional documents specified by the competent authority.
Always refer to the official service card before submitting a request.
How to obtain an environmental permit
The application steps published by the Center include logging in to the permits and licenses platform, choosing the appropriate service, completing the form, attaching the documents, and then submitting the request.
The duration and fees vary by service and category; refer to the latest official information for both.
How Beati helps
Beati gives you access to environmental service providers who can help you obtain the technical services you need, such as preparing Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Impact Assessments, according to your establishment's needs.
Issuing the permit remains the responsibility of the competent regulatory authority.
Browse environmental compliance services in the Beati services directory.
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