Riyadh Construction Projects Fined Over SAR 20 Million Due to Dust

Construction projects in Riyadh have been fined more than SAR 20 million for dust-related environmental violations as Saudi authorities step up monitoring of building activity across the capital.

The fines were imposed by the National Center for Environmental Compliance during inspection campaigns carried out with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Municipality. The enforcement forms part of a dust control initiative introduced in February 2026.

The centre currently operates 12 fixed and four mobile monitoring stations across Riyadh, allowing inspectors to track air quality continuously, identify locations with elevated dust levels and take action against projects that fail to meet environmental requirements.

Under rules introduced in February, construction projects covering 2,000 sqm or more must comply with 11 dust-control requirements. Violations can result in fines of up to SAR 50,000 for each breached requirement.

Measures include using dust suppressants and daily watering on construction sites, managing truck movements and ensuring loads are covered during transport. Projects must also install air quality monitoring equipment, connect it to Riyadh’s unified construction dust monitoring platform and submit periodic environmental performance reports.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance said monitoring stations have also been redistributed according to the impact of major construction projects, with real-time tracking continuing across development sites under air quality regulations.