Riyadh mandates infrastructure contractor accreditation from 2027

Omar Saifan of Pinsent Masons was commenting as the Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Centre (RIPC) announced the mandatory implementation of a new infrastructure contractor accreditation framework (70-pages / 8MB PDF).

The framework is aimed at ensuring contractors receive accreditation from the RIPC before undertaking works or obtaining the necessary permits to carry out infrastructure projects within the Riyadh region.

Under the new regime, which will take effect from 1 January 2027, accreditation will become a mandatory market access requirement rather than purely an administrative requirement.

The framework will introduce comprehensive requirements relating to technical and operational capability, financial strength, compliance performance and professional experience. It will apply to both main contractors and subcontractors operating across the construction sector in the region, namely those delivering roads, water, electricity, telecommunications, drainage, street lighting and related works.

Saifan, an expert in construction disputes at Pinsent Masons, said the new framework marked one of the most significant recent regulatory developments in the region’s infrastructure sector. “Rather than focusing solely on traditional contractor classification requirements, the new regime introduces a sophisticated assessment model that links eligibility for infrastructure projects to measurable indicators, including operational capability, health and safety performance, quality management, financial resilience and demonstrated delivery experience,” he said.

For contractors, critically, the framework will also make compliance a “critical priority” from the outset, added Faisal Attia, a civil law expert with Pinsent Masons in Dubai. “The framework is expected to raise market standards, improve project delivery outcomes and reduce operational and compliance risks across the sector,” he said. "Importantly, by linking permit issuance to accreditation status, the regime makes early compliance a critical priority for contractors seeking to maintain or expand their presence in Riyadh's infrastructure market.”

Ahead of the new regime taking effect on 1 January, contractors, developers, investors and legal advisers should assess their position against the accreditation criteria, ensure that all mandatory regulatory requirements are satisfied, and address any gaps relating to technical capability, financial metrics or compliance records well before the mandatory implementation date.

Contractors, in particular, may also need to undertake a comprehensive review of internal governance structures, quality and safety systems, financial standing and compliance records before mandatory enforcement begins next year.

The new framework is the latest initiative by the RIPC to improve standards and enhance efficiency across the Riyadh region’s construction market. Last year the RIPC published an Infrastructure Projects Code Guide that included establishing unified permitting requirements, health and safety management protocols, compliance procedures and methodologies for measuring and monitoring project performance.