RIYADH, 2 October 2005 — In a move aimed at streamlining the engineering profession and bringing about qualitative changes, the Saudi Council of Engineers has announced that primary membership has been made mandatory for Saudi engineers while non-Saudi engineers can become associate members.
According to Saleh Al-Amr, manager of the council, the organization’s mandate has been expanded to make it a regulatory authority for boosting the standards of the engineering profession and for creating an environment conducive to innovation and professional development.
The council is a scientific professional body under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Al-Amr said that in view of the enlargement, the council may set up new branches in the Kingdom.
Currently about 6,000 Saudi engineers are members of the council. Membership has not been mandatory until now. Al-Amr said that membership has been made compulsory for Saudis while non-Saudi engineers can become associate members.
Explaining the council’s priorities, Al-Amr said promoting research and development would be important since this area had not received the attention it deserves.
One priority will be setting up training programs for engineering firms, which constitute the bulk of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) comprising the membership of the Kingdom’s chambers of commerce and industry.
With a construction boom in full swing, raising the standards of the engineering profession has acquired a new importance. Al-Amr said that the council had already launched an Arabic website and that one in English is in preparation.
