Effectiveness of the Environmental Management System (EMS) in Ensuring Compliance with Neom Environmental Requirements

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Environmental Management System (EMS) implemented on a major infrastructure project within NEOM and examines how successfully it ensures compliance with NEOM's stringent environmental requirements. The study integrates evidence from EMS documentation, NEOM environmental guidelines, internal audit results, field inspections, and staff interviews to assess the practical performance of the EMS across various operational conditions. Given NEOM's environmentally sensitive setting characterized by desert ecosystems, wadis, archaeological heritage sites, and diverse flora, fauna and the importance of robust environmental controls cannot be overstated. NEOM's regulatory framework demands systematic planning, operational discipline, proactive risk identification, and continuous environmental protection throughout construction activities. The research identifies how the EMS translates documented procedures into real field actions and evaluates its effectiveness in managing dust emissions, waste streams, spills, biodiversity protection, and Land Use Permit (LUP) compliance. While the EMS demonstrates strong capability in reducing environmental risks and raising workforce awareness, its overall success is influenced by factors such as subcontractor performance, site supervision, environmental training, and resource availability. The study concludes that the EMS has been effective in translating documented procedures into practical site-level controls, resulting in improved compliance, reduced environmental risks, and enhanced workforce awareness. Measurable improvements were observed in dust control, waste management, spill prevention, biodiversity protection, and Land Use Permit (LUP) compliance. However, gaps remain in documentation consistency, subcontractor performance, and digital reporting. Addressing these areas through improved digital integration, strengthened subcontractor oversight, and continuous training will further enhance EMS performance and support NEOM's long-term sustainability objectives.