The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) is to start using a new system in the next three months to audit and accredit construction plans of government and private companies. This is to ensure the projects fulfill Saudi standards and regulations and ultimately prevent costly delays.

This is the first time the SCE has embarked on such a measure, which will ensure all plans are validated through a neutral engineering office.

Secretary general of the SEC, Ghazi bin Saeed Al-Abbasi, said the new mechanism would improve engineering work by 70 percent and speed up the implementation of projects like those in the rest of the world.

The council is also working on the application of a building code, which was approved through a royal decree six years ago, to limit engineering problems in the construction industry. He said many projects are not delayed by corruption, but rather from a lack of commitment to international professional rules and regulations.

Al-Abbasi pointed out there is currently coordination with different parties in the public sector, including the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and other ministries, that have big government projects.

He said the new system would help improve the professionalism of the 4,000 engineering offices in the Kingdom.