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The National Center for Environmental Compliance issued 557 violations carrying penalties of more than SR16 million against construction projects in Riyadh that failed to meet dust emission standards. The center carried out the campaign in coordination with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Riyadh Municipality, deploying more than 3,000 field inspection tours since launching the effort in February. Data from fixed air quality monitoring stations, resident complaints and continuous inspector visits supplied the evidence for the penalties, which targeted sites that neglected required mitigation steps.
Specific breaches included the absence of approved air quality monitoring devices at project perimeters, failure to apply water spraying or other approved dust suppression techniques and the transport of loose materials in uncovered trucks. The center’s technical guide for controlling dust from construction activities, which applies to all projects occupying 2,000 square meters or more, sets the compliance baseline that was violated in each case. According to the center, repeated or severe infractions triggered higher individual fines that together surpassed the SR16 million threshold.
Engineer Fawaz Al-Majthil, the center’s branch manager in Riyadh, stated that sustained enforcement protects public health, improves ambient air quality and advances the kingdom’s sustainability objectives. Al-Majthil noted that the multi-agency approach allows real-time detection and rapid response across the rapidly expanding capital. The campaign remains active, with inspectors empowered to impose immediate corrective orders alongside financial penalties.
An assessment published by The Environment Consultant in February described the Riyadh dust regulation as one of the strictest in the GCC, carrying potential fines of up to SR50,000 per violation for non-compliant construction sites. The National Center for Environmental Compliance, established to unify environmental oversight, has intensified field operations in parallel with Vision 2030 megaprojects that have awarded construction contracts worth tens of billions of dollars across the Riyadh region. Industry data from IMARC Group placed the Saudi dust control solutions market at USD 167.1 million in 2025, reflecting rising demand for compliant technologies driven by these regulatory actions.
Construction remains a cornerstone of Riyadh’s growth, yet unchecked dust contributes to seasonal air quality deterioration that affects millions of residents. The center’s figures show that proactive monitoring has steadily increased the detection rate of violations, prompting many contractors to invest in automated spraying systems and perimeter barriers. Further joint inspections are scheduled throughout the remainder of the year to maintain momentum gained since the February launch.
