Permitting & Compliance
We test your environmental performance against defined criteria and give you prioritised, evidence-based findings you can act on.
An objective view of where you stand and what to fix first
An environmental audit is a systematic, documented and objective assessment of how a facility or organisation performs against defined environmental criteria, such as permit conditions, regulatory requirements or an ISO 14001 management system. It gathers evidence through document review, site inspection and interviews, then reports findings ranked by significance with recommendations for corrective action.
Environmental audits give management an independent check on whether environmental requirements are actually being met, rather than assumed to be. In Saudi Arabia, the criteria typically include the conditions of environmental permits, the Environmental Law and its Implementing Regulations, waste management requirements, industrial-city rules where relevant, and internal policies or an ISO 14001 environmental management system. Audits are also used before an expected regulatory inspection, after an incident, or as part of a group-wide governance programme.
We agree the audit type, scope and criteria at the outset: a regulatory compliance audit, a gap assessment against a new requirement or standard, or an internal audit of an environmental management system. We then review documents, inspect operational areas, waste and chemical storage, emission and discharge points, and interview responsible staff. Each finding is supported by objective evidence and classified by significance, so management can see clearly which issues carry regulatory or environmental risk and which are improvement opportunities.
For organisations with, or working towards, ISO 14001, we support internal audits that test whether the management system is implemented and effective. We are not a certification body, and our internal audit work does not lead to certification; it helps you prepare for and maintain it. Every audit ends with a clear report and a closing discussion, and we can verify corrective actions in a follow-up review.
You may need this service when:
A structured audit against permit conditions and applicable regulations, covering documents, site practice and records, with evidence-based findings for each requirement.
A comparison of current practice with a new or revised requirement, standard or internal policy, showing what exists, what is missing and what must change.
Planning and conducting internal audits of your environmental management system against ISO 14001 clauses, supporting your certification preparation and maintenance.
A consistent audit protocol and scoring approach applied across several facilities, so results can be compared and group-level priorities identified.
Findings classified by significance, each with evidence, the requirement concerned and a practical recommendation, so effort goes where risk is highest.
A follow-up review that checks whether agreed corrective actions have been implemented and are effective, with evidence recorded for each closed item.
We agree audit type, sites, boundaries and the criteria to audit against, and issue an audit plan and document request.
We review permits, procedures, monitoring data, waste records and previous findings before the site visit.
We inspect operations and storage areas, observe practice and interview responsible staff to gather objective evidence.
We evaluate evidence against each criterion and classify findings by regulatory and environmental significance.
We present preliminary findings at a closing meeting, then issue a final report with prioritised recommendations.
On request, we verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions in a follow-up review.
| Deliverable | Format | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Audit plan and protocol | Plan with scope, criteria and schedule (PDF) | Before fieldwork |
| Document request list | Checklist of records to provide (Excel) | Before fieldwork |
| Closing meeting summary | Presentation of preliminary findings (PDF) | End of site audit |
| Environmental audit report | Report with findings, evidence and photographs (PDF) | After fieldwork |
| Findings and action register | Prioritised register with recommendations (Excel) | With final report |
| Corrective action verification note | Short verification report (PDF) | Follow-up review |
Requirements vary by activity, location and permit conditions. We confirm the applicable requirements for your project at the start of every engagement.
A compliance audit tests whether you currently meet a defined set of requirements, such as permit conditions and regulations, and reports findings against each. A gap assessment compares current practice with a requirement you are preparing to meet, such as a new regulation, a revised permit or a standard you plan to adopt, and shows what must change. Both use evidence, but their purpose and timing differ.
No. Certification is granted by certification bodies, and we do not act as one. We support your internal audit programme, which ISO 14001 requires, by planning and conducting internal audits against the standard and reporting findings. This helps you prepare for certification or surveillance audits, but it does not replace them.
Each finding is classified by significance, typically considering whether it represents a regulatory non-compliance, the potential environmental impact, and how widespread or repeated the issue is. Findings that carry clear regulatory or environmental risk are ranked first, followed by system weaknesses and improvement opportunities. We agree the classification scheme with you before the audit so results are consistent and easy to act on.
An audit is commissioned by the operator to test and improve its own performance against defined criteria. Due diligence is carried out for a transaction, such as an acquisition, investment or lease, to identify environmental risks and liabilities that may affect value or deal terms. The fieldwork can look similar, but the questions, audience and reporting are different.
We need agreement on scope and criteria, access to the site and to the people responsible for environmental matters, and copies of relevant documents, such as permits, procedures, monitoring results, waste records and previous audit or inspection findings. We send a document request list in advance so the site visit focuses on verification rather than collecting paperwork.
Ongoing compliance management: obligation registers, inspection readiness, responses to regulatory notices and violations, and corrective action plans that close gaps.
Key benefit: Lower exposure to violations and operational disruption
Pre-transaction assessments for acquisitions, investments, leases and land transfers: site history, inspection, contamination risk screening and compliance and liability findings.
Key benefit: Environmental risks known before the deal, not after
Construction and operational environmental management plans that define mitigation, monitoring, responsibilities and KPIs for contractors and operators.
Key benefit: Approval commitments translated into practical, auditable site controls
Environmental registers, periodic and self-monitoring reports, and data management systems that keep your records accurate, traceable and ready for inspection.
Key benefit: Reliable environmental data, available when it is needed
How to prepare a facility for an environmental inspection in Saudi Arabia: records, monitoring data, waste documents, permits, corrective actions and staff.
Share your project details and an environmental specialist will review your requirements.