Riyadh Tightens Dust-Control Rules on Big Projects

Authorities in Riyadh have rolled out stricter environmental compliance measures for major construction and infrastructure projects, led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in cooperation with Riyadh Municipality and the National Center for Environmental Compliance. The new dust-control regulations apply to projects with a total area of 2,000 square metres or more.

Under the rules, large sites must adopt approved dust-control and mitigation procedures rather than relying on water alone. Developers are required to use approved dust suppressants, carry out daily treatment of exposed surfaces, haul roads and stockpiles on a documented schedule, and install on-site air-quality monitoring devices linked to Riyadh's unified construction dust monitoring platform. Periodic environmental performance reports covering dust emissions and compliance metrics must also be submitted.

The requirements cover earthworks, haul roads, stockpiling, crushers, demolition, stone cutting and construction waste management. Dry cutting outdoors is prohibited, with wet cutting mandatory for stone work. Wind-triggered protocols also apply: dust-generating activity faces enhanced suppression at wind speeds of roughly 15–25 km/h and suspension at higher thresholds. Sites must wash truck tyres before exit, cover loads during transport and keep surrounding roads clean.

Round-the-clock monitoring

Projects across the capital are monitored 24/7. The air-quality network includes 12 fixed and 4 mobile stations tracking 22 air-quality components, concentrated near major developments such as Diriyah Gate and Al-Murabba. Inspection teams recently carried out more than 3,000 site visits to verify compliance.

In 2026, authorities logged 557 violations against non-compliant projects, with total fines in the Riyadh region exceeding SAR 16 to 20 million. For residents, the measures aim to cut construction dust, improve air quality and make daily life around active building sites cleaner and healthier.

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