Saudi Arabia is taking a step toward formalizing and scaling its environmental industries, as Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef launched a new framework to position the sector as a regulated industrial pathway that can attract investment while safeguarding natural resources.

Announced during a ministry-led ceremony, the launch introduced environmental industry activities alongside a dedicated Industrial Licensing Guide. The move reflects the Kingdom’s broader push to balance sustainable industrial growth with environmental preservation, anchoring green industries more firmly within its national industrial strategy.

The event brought together senior officials and industry leaders, including Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu President Khalid Al-Salem, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Khalil Ibn Salamah, Vice Minister of Municipalities and Housing Ihab Al-Hashani, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Sebaei, CEO of the National Center for Waste Management, alongside executives from the recycling and waste management sectors.

At the core of the initiative is the Industrial Licensing Guide for Environmental Industries, which outlines licensing procedures for environmental industrial activities and details the incentives, enablers, and services available to investors operating under an industrial license. The guide defines environmental industries as projects centered on environmental management technologies, including waste treatment and recycling, pollution control solutions, improved resource efficiency, and emissions reduction.

By clarifying regulatory pathways and investment mechanisms, the ministry aims to strengthen confidence in the sector and accelerate the development of industries that support the Kingdom’s sustainability goals, while embedding environmental considerations into its industrial economy.