Riyadh Fines Top SR20m in Construction Dust Crackdown

Riyadh has imposed more than 20 million Saudi Riyal in fines during 2026 on construction projects that failed to comply with dust-control requirements, as authorities intensify enforcement to protect air quality across the capital.

The rules apply to all construction projects in Riyadh with a total area of 2,000 square metres or more, which must follow the official guideline on mitigating fugitive dust emissions from construction activities. Each separate breach of a dust-control requirement can be fined up to 50,000 SAR. In one enforcement campaign, 557 dust-control violations were recorded, with fines exceeding 16 million SAR, before continued inspections pushed the cumulative total to around 20 million SAR.

What sites must do

Contractors are required to apply dust-suppressing materials and water spraying on exposed soil and stockpiles, install wheel-washing systems at site exits, cover trucks carrying loose materials, and equip crushers and high-dust equipment with spray or mist systems. High-risk projects must run on-site air-quality monitoring, limit vehicle speeds on unpaved roads, and reduce simultaneous dust-generating work when action levels are reached.

Under the air-quality protocol, a particulate concentration around 250 µg/m³ triggers a warning and stronger suppression measures. A reading around 340 µg/m³ for more than two minutes records a violation, requiring dust-generating activities to be reduced or temporarily halted. Continued exceedance for 30 minutes triggers suspension procedures for the affected work fronts.

The crackdown matters for residents living and working near active building sites, where blowing dust can affect health, cleanliness, and daily comfort. By tightening enforcement and setting clear action levels, the city aims to keep large construction projects moving while limiting their impact on the surrounding community.

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