"These companies, which are not accredited by the SEC, obtain licenses under the Foreign Investment System to implement projects inside the Kingdom. After securing the license, they act as engineering consultant offices, making designs and plans for government projects," SEC member Yahya Koshak told Arab News.

He said the SEC has complained to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.

Koshak, who is also a member of the national consultants committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said many of the unaccredited consultants bid as contractors to implement projects, which is against investment laws.

He claimed many of the foreign engineers possess forged university degrees or certificates. "This has caused a number of problems in the execution of projects," he added.

Koshak said the SEC had asked the ministry if it could be responsible for verifying the credentials of the 120,000 engineers working in the Kingdom.

"The SEC has made arrangements with an international firm specializing in the verification of academic certificates issued by various countries. The public and private sectors should be obliged to refer their engineers to the SEC to verify their certificates and accredit them," he said.

Koshak said there was an estimated 6,000 foreign engineers possessing forged certificates — around five percent of the total number of engineers in Saudi Arabia.

"There are 30,000 Saudi engineers in the Kingdom who are working for government or private establishments," he added.