To meet the ambitions of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is building at extraordinary speed. KAUST Beacon Development (KBD) was engaged to ensure that growth advances with environmental and social stewardship. We provided independent, science-based policy and strategy advice—turning principles into practical frameworks that protect nature, respect communities, and keep delivery on schedule.
KBD seconded a seven-person team into the NEOM Authority Environment Department to stand up a gold-standard approach:
Law & Policy Architecture: Reviewed and developed environmental protection and sustainability law, regulations, rules, policies, standards, and procedures—covering the full project lifecycle.
Digital Permitting Portal: Helped design a modern, auditable portal to receive, track, and process applications efficiently across all stages.
Applied Science & Templates: Created baseline survey methodologies (terrestrial, marine, air, noise, soils/groundwater, remote sensing) and ESIA templates so multiple consultants could deliver consistent, regulator-ready outputs.
End-to-End Permitting Support: Coordinated across NEOM departments and stakeholders; reviewed submissions and issued recommendations aligned to the proposed Law and Regulations—bringing clarity and defensibility to decisions.
KBD’s work converted aspiration into action. A clear legal backbone, practical standards, and a digital front door now guide complex projects from concept to construction.
From ambiguity to certainty. Unified rules and templates reduced interpretive gaps and made expectations transparent—for proponents, regulators, and communities alike.
Faster, cleaner decisions. The portal and standardized documentation streamlined reviews, cut rework, and de-risked schedules.
Protection front-loaded. Baseline methods and ESIA structures embedded avoid-and-protect measures early, safeguarding sensitive habitats and social values before designs locked in.
A playbook others can use. The approach is replicable across agencies and regions—scalable, auditable, and anchored in science.
This initiative goes beyond traditional environmental compliance. It sets a new benchmark for regenerative coastal design, where development contributes to ecosystem restoration and long-term resilience.
Environmental and social safeguards integrated from early planning through construction.
Decision-Grade EvidenceQA/QC-driven methods, ESIA-ready templates, and GIS-enabled outputs that withstand regulatory and lender scrutiny.
Future-Ready DataReusable baselines and a modern data portal support monitoring, learning, and continuous improvement over time.
With a multidisciplinary team of over 150 professionals KBD combines local talent with global experts under one roof. Our mission is to drive transformative change and help achieve the nation’s Vision 2030 by providing strategic, science-backed solutions.
