Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture

Issuance of Groundwater Sources Usage Licenses (Wells)

The Issuing License for Use of Groundwater Resources (Wells) service is a vital electronic service provided by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia. It aims to regulate groundwater usage by granting official licenses for drilling and using groundwater wells for various purposes such as agriculture, industrial use, municipal supply, and livestock drinking water. This service forms part of government efforts to sustain water resources and prevent over-extraction under the Water Law and its executive regulations.

Groundwater owners or users must apply for usage licenses via the Ministry’s 'Nama' portal within one year of new regulation publication in the official gazette. Required documents include drilling licenses, disclosure certificates, or correction permits, approved engineering maps indicating well sites and land extent, and detailed water studies testing chemical, biological, and radiological water quality by an accredited lab.

Installation of electromagnetic meters linked to the centralized 'Hafez' monitoring system is mandatory, alongside certification from the National Water Company confirming the absence of alternative water sources. Ownership deeds or valid leases and updated agricultural registries are also required depending on use. Licenses are issued for 3 to 5 years based on usage and can be renewed following policy conditions.

The Ministry enforces strict monitoring and classification of violations to protect resources and stakeholders, employing advanced technologies to ensure sustainable and equitable groundwater use.

Importance of the service

Enables strict regulation and sustainability of groundwater resources.
Protects landowners, farmers, and other water users’ rights.
Supports agricultural and industrial development with environmental safeguards.
Provides easy digital licensing processes through an integrated portal.
Ensures continuous monitoring for compliance and reduced wastage.

Challenges

Complexity of required hydrogeological studies and lab testing.
Coordination across municipalities, water companies, and environmental bodies.
Managing legacy wells and regulatory correction cases.
Educating users on compliance importance and resource conservation.
Target Sector General
Affiliated Authority Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
Estimated Duration5 days
Gov Approval Window5 working days
Service Pricing2488
Government FeeNo Fee

Mandatory Conditions

  • ✓ It is prohibited to use groundwater sources (wells) for purposes other than those for which they are licensed.
  • ✓ If the applicant is an agent for heirs, a certificate of heirship and a legal power of attorney from all heirs must be attached, stating that they must visit the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to obtain a license to use groundwater sources (wells).
  • ✓ Anyone who obtains a new or replacement well drilling license must apply within thirty days of completion of drilling work to obtain a use license.
  • ✓ You must apply for a new usage license if you wish to change the purpose of use or add another purpose other than the one for which it was licensed.
  • ✓ The licensee shall be obligated not to exceed the quantities of water specified in the usage license.
  • ✓ When cancelling the activity, the licensee is obligated to apply for the service of cancelling the use license within ninety days of cancelling the activity.
  • ✓ The existence of permanent agricultural revivals or an agricultural license for agricultural purposes.
  • ✓ Agricultural record developed for agricultural purposes in lands located on the alluvial shelf.
  • ✓ Undertaking to install a meter and data transmitter according to the Ministry’s specifications and under its supervision for the following purposes: 1. Urban purposes (drinking) for government agencies, companies, bodies, institutions and their affiliated centers. 2. Potable objects 3. Agricultural purposes in lands located on the sedimentary shelf. 4. Non-potable objects 5. Bottled drinking water factories, ice factories, food factories and juice factories. 6. Mining projects, crushers, block and brick factories, cement and ready-mix concrete factories and other factories. 7. Industrial Cities Authority and Economic Cities

Required Documents

  • ✓ Drilling license (well/wells), disclosure certificate, correction license, or payment of the prescribed fine.
  • ✓ A title deed or a title decision based on a distribution decision or a title deed based on a royal order or a lease contract issued by the ministry or a government agency or a lease contract based on a title deed authenticated by the competent authority or a certified advertisement on the Ihkam platform limited only to agricultural purposes.
  • ✓ Attach a survey report from one of the engineering offices accredited by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, showing the entire area of ​​the land and the location of the well to be used.
  • ✓ Submitting a water study on the wells, including water quality analyses (chemical-bacteriological-radiological) from an office accredited by the Ministry according to the approved specifications or a drilling completion report from the drilling contractor.
  • ✓ Attach the pump catalog, photo and production capacity.
  • ✓ Attaching the residence permit of the person, for the purpose of residence of the person (suitable for drinking and unsuitable for drinking).
  • ✓ Attach the developed agricultural record, for agricultural purposes.