Engineering Professions Practice Law in the Kingdom

The Engineering Professions Practice Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a set of legal rules governing the work of engineers in the Kingdom, procedures for issuing licenses for engineering professions, requirements for professional accreditation, and penalties for violators. The law was issued in 2017 during the reign of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Implementing Regulations of the Engineering Professions Practice Law were issued on April 1, 2018. They included the implementing provisions of the law’s articles, chiefly: formation of a professional accreditation committee charged with verifying the necessary conditions for professional accreditation and registration with the Saudi Council of Engineers; mechanisms for the formation of a committee to rule on violations arising from the application of the Engineering Professions Practice Law; defining the tasks and powers of the judicial officer in inspection and oversight rounds; clarifying the categories of professional accreditation and the requisites for each category, including an engineer, specialist, and technician in supporting engineering disciplines; specifying professional grading of engineers; detailing areas of engineering work that can be practiced; and cases where canceling of professional accreditation and licensing of engineering offices or companies are applied.

The Engineering Professions Practice Law stipulates that an engineering profession may not be practiced without obtaining a professional certification from the Saudi Council of Engineers. Moreover, appointment in engineering positions at government entities is deemed a license for practicing the profession at said entities within the limits of the duties and responsibilities of such positions. The competent regulatory entities may require the engineers at government entities to obtain professional certification. A professionally certified engineer may not practice engineering beyond his specialty or grade.

The law stipulates that the applicant to obtain a professional certification must hold the necessary degree in any of the engineering specialties from a Saudi university, or its equivalent from a recognized university; be legally competent; undertake to comply with the Engineers' Code of Ethics; not have been previously convicted of any crime impinging on honor or integrity; not be subject of a decision striking off his professional certification; and pass the technical aptitude tests in his specialty to obtain professional grades.

The Engineering Professions Practice Law seeks to advance and develop the profession and its professionals by introducing professional tests that examine the basic and professional engineering capabilities of engineers to obtain professional grades that help engineers evaluate their performance and professional competence, identify their weak points, and remedy them. Also, the examinations gauge an array number of diverse aptitudes, including mental abilities, recollection, analysis, installation, evaluation, and application, to ensure the selection of the best candidates from applicants for engineering positions.

Fines and penalties for violators amount to a maximum of SAR1 million in case of engaging in engineering professions without professional accreditation, operating engineering offices and companies without an engineering license, or hiring an unqualified practitioner despite knowledge of the law. Also, the law sets forth a penalty of one year’s imprisonment and a fine of SAR1 million for illegally obtaining professional accreditation, the use of any propaganda/advertising means without obtaining a license and accreditation, or impersonating the professional grade granted to professionally certified persons.