Riyadh Dust Fines Near SAR 20 Million on Construction Sites

Environmental inspectors are stepping up round-the-clock tours of construction sites across Riyadh to enforce strict dust-control rules, with total dust-related fines on building projects in the capital reaching about SAR 20 million as of early September 2026. The campaign is led by the National Center for Environmental Compliance in coordination with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Municipality.

Earlier in the 2026 campaign, inspectors recorded 557 violations carrying fines exceeding SAR 16 million for breaches of the procedural guide on controlling dust at construction sites. Non-compliance with the mandatory standards can bring penalties of up to SAR 50,000

The dust-control requirements apply mandatorily to construction projects covering 2,000 square metres or more. The published guide sets out 19 measures to cut dust, including the use of certified dust-suppression materials, daily treatment of exposed surfaces through spraying or stabilizing, covering material-transport trucks, complying with speed limits on unpaved roads, and installing wheel-wash systems and misting systems for crushers where applicable. Projects are also required to install on-site, real-time air-quality monitoring devices, including at high-risk sites.

How violations are detected

Monitoring runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using a network of fixed and mobile air-quality stations to pinpoint offending sites. Violations are identified through station data, field inspection tours, and public reports from residents in neighbourhoods near construction sites. Inspection teams verify that breaches are fixed; where non-compliance persists, legal action and fines are imposed.

The crackdown, launched in February 2026 with enforcement continuing through at least September 2026, aims to reduce airborne dust that affects air quality and daily life for residents living near active building works. For families and workers across Riyadh, tighter oversight is intended to mean cleaner air and fewer dust clouds spilling from construction zones into surrounding neighbourhoods.

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