The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has started implementing noise regulating rules in Saudi Arabia.

The ministry stated that perhaps the regulation's provisions apply to all people in residential, commercial, industrial, and environmentally sensitive areas, and also sides of roads and building sites, but it does not apply to the noise inside buildings, military activities, and sirens, and airports, railways, operational activities at seaports, and national celebrations.

The legislation attempts to define the National Center for Environmental Compliance's area of operation in terms of tracking people's compliance with the legislation's noise level limits, and periodic monitoring and assessment of noise levels throughout the Kingdom.

This also aims to determine restrictions and conditions that lead to noise monitoring, measurement, and oversight, and measures to cut them, by publishing noise-related information, data, and environment reports as set by the ministry, as well as taking necessary steps and deeds when people are about to surpass the authorized noise limits.

The ministry stated that now the enforcement prescribed a percentage of fines and penalties, such as failure to deliver the centre with the information needed for controlling and monitoring noise levels, inability to commit to allowed times and levels of noise, failure to develop an action plan to reduce noise levels after receiving a notification from the centre, in addition to failing to comply with noise-related licensing restrictions and limits, and failing to furnish the centre with updates mostly on achievements made in implementing the noise-compliance plan.

The ministry encouraged people to visit its website at https://www.mewa.gov.sa/ar/InformationCenter/DocsCenter/RulesLibrary/Pages/default.aspx for additional details on the rule.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance monitors environmental adherence of all amenities with an environmental impact in all sectors of development, overseeing initiatives for identifying environmental pollution and identifying environmental mainstream press and monitoring the quality of air, water, and soil.

In addition, the department supports environmental impact assessments, issues environmental permits for all development initiatives, undertakes environmental inspection operations on facilities and collaborates with stakeholders to enhance compliance with environmental regulations.