Article 6 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 6 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثاني: الأوساط البيئية والموارد المائية وحمايتها
The article prohibits anything that would pollute or harm the environmental media and water resources, or negatively affect their use, as the regulations determine.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُحظر القيام بكل ما من شأنه تلويث الأوساط البيئية والموارد المائية، أو الإضرار بهما، أو التأثير سلباً في الانتفاع بهما؛ وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 6 explained in plain English
This article sets a general prohibition on polluting the environment and water, and opens the chapter on the environmental media and water resources and their protection.
The prohibition covers three forms:
- Polluting the environmental media or water resources.
- Harming them.
- Negatively affecting their use, even if it does not amount to visible pollution.
The phrase "anything that would" means the prohibition is not limited to acts that actually led to pollution, but extends to acts that by their nature would lead to it.
The environmental media under Article 1 are very broad: everything that surrounds humans, animals, plants or any living organism, from water, air, land, soil, living things and gases in the atmosphere and bodies of water, and the energy, habitats and natural processes they contain.
Nevertheless, the article ties the prohibition to what the regulations determine, so the Implementing Regulations are what set out the details and controls, and the article itself states no specific quantities or standards. It is followed by Article 7, which prohibits exploiting, transporting, storing or selling natural resources without a permit or license. Anyone harmed by pollution, or facing a violation notice, can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A small facility in Qassim discharges liquid waste onto vacant land near a farm, damaging the soil and affecting the farmers' use of it. This act is one that Article 6 prohibits, because it harms one of the environmental media and negatively affects its use.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 6 of the Saudi Environment Law
Must pollution actually occur for an act to be prohibited?
The article prohibits anything that would pollute, harm or negatively affect use, and does not limit the prohibition to what actually led to pollution; the regulations determine the details.
What are the environmental media?
Under Article 1, everything that surrounds humans, animals, plants or any living organism, from water, air, land, soil, living things, gases and bodies of water.
Where can I find details of what counts as prohibited pollution?
The article refers to what the Implementing Regulations of the Law determine.
More articles on Pollution and Emissions
- Article 7
The article prohibits exploiting, transporting, storing, selling or promoting natural resources and their products within the Kingdom's territory without a permit or license.
يُحظر استغلال أو نقل أو تخزين أو بيع أو الترويج لأيّ من الموارد الطبيعية ومنتجاتها الموجودة في إقليم المملكة الذي يشمل أراضيها -بما في ذلك الجزر- ومجالها الجوي،
- Article 8
The article imposes six obligations on permit and license holders whose activities may give off emissions or pollutants, including monitoring, periodic reports, environmental auditing and rehabilitation.
على كل من المصرح له والمرخص له الذي يمارس أنشطة قد يصدر منها انبعاثات أو ملوثات، أو التي قد تؤثر في الأوساط البيئية؛ الالتزام بالآتي: 1- الاشتراطات والضوابط وال
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.