Riyadh:The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) has reported a significant 42% increase in the issuance of environmental permits during the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same timeframe last year. This surge was primarily attributed to an uptick in permits granted to productive factories, which resulted in over 6,600 environmental permits being issued to establishments with environmental impacts within the quarter.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Eng. Abdullah Kaabi, the Director General of Environmental Permits and Licenses, highlighted that the growing industrial and logistics activities in Saudi Arabia have contributed to the rising demand for environmental permits. Approximately 2,000 productive factories licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources have obtained these permits in the current year. Additionally, over 75 permits were granted to companies licensed by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) for logistics services across eight ports.
Furthermore, Kaabi noted that the total number of environmental permits issued this year has exceeded 17,000. The Riyadh Region led in the number of permits with more than 2,600, followed by the Eastern Region with over 1,600, and Makkah Region with more than 1,200. Other regions across the Kingdom accounted for the remaining permits.
The NCEC urged all sectors to proactively secure environmental permits and adhere to the necessary requirements before initiating their operations. Emphasizing compliance with environmental standards, the NCEC stressed the importance of these measures in mitigating the environmental impacts of economic activities and enhancing sustainability.