In a move reflecting the accelerated pace of environmental work in Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Environmental Compliance announced record-breaking figures in its field operations during 2025, with its inspection teams conducting more than 58,000 inspection tours across the Kingdom. The Center focused its monitoring efforts heavily on the most impactful vital sectors, particularly industry, mining, and energy, which alone accounted for 51% of all inspections. This is part of a national strategy aimed at enhancing quality of life and protecting the environment.
Strategic context and Vision 2030
These intensified efforts align with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the "Green Saudi Arabia" initiative, which prioritize environmental protection and the sustainability of natural resources. This regulatory approach is part of a comprehensive transformation underway in the Kingdom's environmental sector, moving from traditional monitoring to the adoption of advanced, proactive methodologies. This initiative aims to strike a delicate balance between rapid industrial and economic development and the preservation of environmental components (air, water, and soil) from pollution and depletion, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's international standing in environmental performance indicators.
Risk-based inspection methodology
The center has undergone a strategic transformation in its field operations by adopting a "risk-based inspection" methodology. This methodology relies on an intelligent model that directs regulatory and human resources toward activities with the highest environmental impact, rather than random inspections. Visits to facilities are intensified as risk indicators rise, according to a precise and sophisticated assessment matrix. This ensures greater efficiency and faster detection and resolution of violations before their negative consequences escalate.
Mecca leads the way, followed by Riyadh
Statistics revealed intensive activity during the last quarter of 2025, with field teams conducting over 13,000 inspection visits. Geographically, the Makkah region topped the list of most inspected areas, with environmental inspectors visiting approximately 4,000 facilities. This high volume is attributed to the region's population density, significant economic activity, and religious and geographical importance. The Riyadh region came in second with over 2,500 inspection visits, followed by the Eastern Province—the hub of the oil and petrochemical industries—with around 2,000 visits. The remaining visits were distributed across the rest of the Kingdom according to a scheduled plan.
Expected economic and environmental impact
The Director of the Inspection Department at the Center, Abdulmajid Al-Harbi, explained that this new approach has contributed to focusing efforts on the most sensitive sectors to ensure the sustainability of environmental resources. Al-Harbi emphasized a crucial point regarding the classification of facilities, clarifying that classifying a facility as "high risk" does not necessarily mean it is non-compliant with regulations, but rather reflects the sensitive nature of its activity, which necessitates close and continuous monitoring to ensure the safety of the surrounding environment.
Achieving environmental commitment not only protects nature, but also extends to economic aspects; environmentally committed establishments are more competitive in global markets, contribute to attracting green investments, and reduce future costs of addressing environmental degradation, thus supporting the circular economy and enhancing the sustainability of national development.
