NCEC: Environmental Permits for Facilities Grow by 6% in Q1 2026

The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) announced that it had issued more than 4,300 environmental permits for environmentally impactful facilities across all provinces of Saudi Arabia and various development sectors during the first quarter of 2025, marking an increase of approximately 6% compared to same period last year.
 Official Spokesperson for NCEC Saad Al-Matrafi stated that the increase in permits issued during the first quarter was primarily driven by rising demand from the transport and logistics sector, which recorded a 71% increase compared to the corresponding period last year. He noted that this reflects the growing level of environmental compliance and improved adherence to approved environmental standards and regulations within the sector.
 Al-Matrafi also outlined the geographical distribution of permits across the Kingdom. Facilities in Riyadh Region accounted for more than 1,700 permits, followed by Makkah Region with 918 permits and Eastern Region with 811 permits, while approximately 800 permits were issued across the remaining regions of the Kingdom. He emphasized that the rise in permit issuance aligns with the growth of development activities in each region.
 In a related context, the center issued more than 35 licenses to environmental service providers during the first quarter, bringing the total number of licensed institutions and companies to 760. These entities provide services to more than 50,000 facilities, including periodic reporting, environmental impact assessments, corrective action plans, and other environmental services. This step aims to expand partnerships with the private sector and provide qualified and diverse options for facilities seeking to enhance their environmental performance.
 Al-Matrafi further noted that the increasing pace of permit issuance reflects the commitment of environmentally impactful facilities to environmental standards and regulations aimed at protecting water, air, and soil ecosystems, while also helping facilities avoid the costs associated with negative environmental impacts, including financial penalties and site rehabilitation requirements.