The Council of Ministers, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, approved the Regulations Governing the Practice of Engineering Professions, and emphasized that engineers who are not professionally registered—as of the effective date of this regulation—must bring their status into compliance with its provisions within six months from the date it takes effect. The Council also approved an amendment to the regulations of the Consumer Protection Association, such that one-third of the members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Prime Minister.
On this occasion, the real estate newspaper Amlak publishes the regulations and rules governing the practice of engineering professions:
Article 1:
The following terms and expressions—wherever they appear in this regulation—shall have the meanings set forth opposite each, unless the context requires otherwise:
Regulation: Regulation on the Practice of Engineering Professions.
Regulations: The Executive Regulations of the Law.
The Authority: The Saudi Council of Engineers.
Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Investment.
Minister: Minister of Commerce and Investment.
Board of Directors: The Authority’s Board of Directors.
Committee: The Authority’s Professional Accreditation Committee.
Engineering Work : Studies, designs, drawings, supervision, implementation, operation, and maintenance in the fields of engineering and their subfields.
Practice of Engineering Professions: Performing any engineering work carried out within the fields of engineering and their subfields.
Professional Accreditation : Registration with the Authority and obtaining a professional degree.
Professional Degree : The professional degree awarded to an engineer by the Authority upon professional accreditation.
Engineer’s Code of Ethics: The set of rules governing the ethics and conduct of the engineering profession, as approved by the Authority.
License : The license granted by the Ministry to engineering firms and companies when they practice any of the engineering professions.
Article 2:
1- No engineering profession may be practiced unless professional accreditation has been obtained from the Authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Law and the Regulations.
2- Holding an engineering position in a government agency shall be deemed authorization to practice the profession within that agency, limited to the engineering functions for which the individual was appointed, and their duties and responsibilities. The competent regulatory authorities may, at any time they deem appropriate, require engineers in government agencies to obtain professional accreditation.
Article 3:
A professionally accredited engineer may not practice an engineering specialty or hold a professional degree for which he or she is not accredited.
Article 4:
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article (2) of the Regulations, it is prohibited to employ engineers who are not professionally accredited.
Article 5:
Unless otherwise specified, no entity may accept any engineering work except from those who are professionally accredited.
Article 6:
The following conditions must be met for professional certification:
1- The applicant for professional accreditation must hold the required degree in any engineering discipline from a Saudi university or its equivalent from a recognized university.
2- The applicant must have full legal capacity.
3- The applicant must pledge to abide by the Engineer’s Code of Ethics.
4. The applicant must not have been previously convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust, unless their good standing has been restored.
5. No decision to revoke the applicant’s professional accreditation may have been issued against them, unless three years have elapsed since the decision was issued.
6 – Must pass technical proficiency exams in their field of specialization to obtain professional grades, in accordance with the conditions and regulations set forth in a resolution issued by the Board of Directors.
7 – Pay the prescribed fee for professional accreditation.
Article 7:
Applications for professional accreditation shall be submitted to the Committee in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. Professional accreditation shall be granted after verifying that the necessary conditions for accreditation are met, and the Committee shall decide on the application within thirty days from the date the required documents are completed.
In all cases, the Committee’s decision must be substantiated, and an appeal against its decision may be filed with the competent court.
Article 8:
A professionally accredited engineer must indicate his or her name, professional rank, and professional accreditation number on all of his or her engineering work.
Article 9:
The Board of Directors shall determine the professional grades and their requirements, the duration of professional certification and the procedures for its renewal, as well as the associated fees, provided that these are reviewed every five years, in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.
Article 10:
Subject to the provisions of relevant regulations and the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article (2) of the Regulation, engineering firms and companies may not practice any engineering profession unless they have obtained the necessary license from the Ministry, in accordance with the professional practice standards and licensing conditions established by the Authority.
Article 11:
1 – Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in other regulations, a fine not exceeding (1,000,000) million riyals shall be imposed on anyone who commits any of the following violations:
a. Practicing any engineering profession without obtaining professional accreditation, or while such accreditation is suspended, or after it has been revoked.
b. Engineering firms and companies that practice any engineering profession without obtaining a license, or after its revocation.
c. Employing an engineering practitioner without obtaining professional accreditation to perform engineering work, while being aware of this fact.
2 – Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in other regulations, the offender shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding (1,000,000) million riyals, or both of these penalties; any person who commits any of the following violations:
A. Submitting false information or engaging in irregular practices that result in professional accreditation or a license, or lead to the renewal of either, or to the attainment of a professional degree.
b. Using any means of publicity or advertising that would lead others to believe they are qualified to practice an engineering profession without having obtained the necessary license or professional accreditation.
C. Impersonating a professional title granted to professionally accredited individuals.
3 – The Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority shall be responsible for investigating and prosecuting the violations set forth in this article.
4 – The competent court shall hear cases involving these violations and impose the penalties prescribed in this article.
Article 12:
1. By decision of the Minister, one or more committees shall be formed, each consisting of no fewer than three members, one of whom must be a legal advisor; such committees shall be responsible for hearing other violations arising from the application of this Regulation and imposing one or more of the following penalties:
a. Reprimand.
b. Warning.
c. Suspension of professional accreditation for a period not exceeding six months.
d. A fine not exceeding (100,000) one hundred thousand riyals.
e. Revocation of professional accreditation.
f. Revocation of the license.
2. The Committee’s decisions shall be issued by a majority of its members, shall be supported by reasons, and shall be approved by a decision of the Minister. Any person against whom a decision is issued shall have the right to appeal it before the Board of Grievances in accordance with its regulations.
3. If the violation—which the Committee is competent to hear pursuant to paragraph (1) of this article—is accompanied by another violation that falls within the jurisdiction of the court pursuant to Article (Eleven) of the Law; the Committee shall refer the violation to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution for investigation and prosecution, and the competent court shall hear the violation and impose the penalties set forth in the regulations.
Article 13:
A final judgment or decision imposing a penalty may include a provision requiring its publication, at the violator’s expense, in three local newspapers, at least one of which must be published in the violator’s place of residence; if there is no newspaper in that area, publication shall be in a newspaper published in the nearest area.
Article 14:
Officers appointed by the Authority, whose names are designated by a decision of the Minister, shall be responsible for detecting violations of the provisions of this Law and its regulations.
Article 15:
Any person whose professional accreditation has been revoked or whose license has been canceled in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation may apply to the competent authority for reinstatement of their accreditation or license three years after the date of the judgment or decision revoking or canceling it, and the application for reinstatement of professional accreditation or licensing shall follow the conditions and procedures required for accreditation.
Article 16:
The Minister—in coordination with the Board of Directors—shall issue the implementing regulations for this Regulation within ninety days of its effective date, and they shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Article 17:
This Regulation shall take effect sixty days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
