Construction projects in Riyadh are facing fines of up to SR20 million (USD 5.3 million) as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to control dust pollution and improve air quality, Fawaz Al-Mujthil, director of the Riyadh branch of the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), said in a statement published on Thursday, 3 September.
The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) has increased inspection and monitoring of construction sites in cooperation with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Municipality.
According to Fawaz Al-Mujthil, director of NCEC’s Riyadh branch, monitoring teams are working around the clock to identify environmental violations and ensure that projects address sources of dust before legal action is taken against those that fail to comply.
The monitoring system combines 12 fixed air quality stations with four mobile stations across the Riyadh region. Together, they track 22 air quality indicators, helping authorities identify pollution levels and focus inspections on the sites with the greatest impact.
The stations have been repositioned based on their proximity to major construction projects, including Diriyah Gate and the Al-Murabba development.
The measures follow a procedural guide published in February outlining requirements for managing dust generated by construction activities.
The move comes as Riyadh undergoes a major construction boom, with large-scale projects transforming the city and bringing growing attention to their environmental impact.
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