Improving Transport Project Appraisals
In the Islamic Countries
145
transport more specifically, noise pollution and air pollution are reported to be the most
relevant environmental aspects taken into consideration.
Moreover, the 2011 Strategy prioritised a better implementation of the environmental impact
assessment (EIA) for major infrastructure projects. While mandatory requirements were already
in place since 2001122, the Strategy acknowledged that their implementation was falling behind.
So far, EIA practices in Saudi Arabia have varied based on the classification of the project into
three different categories, depending on the level of expected environmental impacts.
Table 9.2: Allocation of transport infrastructure projects to three categories for performing
the Environmental Impact Assessment, based on Royal Decree 34/2001
Category Transport infrastructure projects
First category –
“Projects With Limited
Environmental
Impacts”
 Expansion of existing roads not exceeding 15%of the existing length
or width;
 Modification or expansion of an existing marine berth which does
not involve any pollution impact or effective dredging of the site.
Second category –
“Projects With
Significant
Environmental
Impacts”
 Construction of divided roads less than 50 km in length, excluding
highways, tunnels, causeways, bridges and railroads.
Third category –
“Projects With Serious
Environmental
Impacts”
 Major conveyance systems, such as causeways, underground
transport, railways, express ways and roads in excess of 50 km in
length;
 Civilian and military airports;
 Ports, expansions in berths, yards…etc.
Sources: Royal Decree 34/2001 and Al-Azri et al., 2014.
A different information form (representing the environmental assessment) corresponds to each
category: first-category projects require the lowest amount of data, while third-category
projects demand the highest amount of data and information.
122 Saudi Arabia introduced legislation on EIAs in October 2001 through the Royal Decree No. 34/2001 - General
Environment Law and Rules for Implementation in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, identifying the Presidency for Meteorology
and Environment as the authority in charge of environmental affairs. Two years later, the Executive Regulations
3964/2003 were released.