Environmental permits in Saudi Arabia rise 42% in Q3 2026

The National Center for Environmental Compliance has reported a 42% increase in environmental permits issued during the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, with the total number of permits for environmentally impactful facilities exceeding 6,600.

Abdullah Kaabi, Director General of Environmental Permits and Licenses, said the rise was driven by an increase in permits granted to manufacturing plants. He noted that around 2,000 licensed manufacturing facilities, registered with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, received environmental permits this year.

Kaabi added that over 75 environmental permits were issued to companies licensed by the General Authority for Ports to provide logistics services at eight affiliated ports. He also highlighted that activities in other economic sectors contributed to raising the total number of environmental permits issued this year to more than 17,000.

Riyadh leads Saudi regions in environmental permits

Kaabi stated that Riyadh region topped the list with more than 2,600 permits, followed by the Eastern Province with over 1,600, and Makkah region with more than 1,200. The remaining permits were distributed across other regions of the Kingdom.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance urged facilities across all sectors to obtain environmental permits and fulfill their requirements before commencing operations, emphasizing the importance of adhering to approved environmental standards and regulations to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability.