The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) Board of Directors has officially approved the "Engineer's Charter," a new ethical code that all registered engineers will be required to acknowledge and adhere to .The decision is in line with the Engineering Professions Practice Law, issued under Royal Decree No. (M/36) dated 19/4/1438H, which mandates that engineering practices follow strict ethical, professional, and regulatory standards. The newly adopted charter aims to ensure that engineering professionals across all disciplines and levels uphold values of honesty, integrity, fairness, accountability, and excellence in their work. Under the new regulation, engineers must pledge their commitment to the charter upon registering with SCE. The policy will come into effect 60 days after its publication in official newspapers and media outlets, reinforcing the SCE's mission to enhance the integrity and professionalism of the engineering sector in Saudi Arabia.
The Engineer's Charter establishes a set of rules that regulate the ethics and professional conduct of engineering practices, as endorsed by the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). It applies to various engineering disciplines and branches, covering studies, designs, drawings, supervision, execution, operation, and maintenance within the engineering profession.
The Engineer's Charter aims to achieve several key objectives, including establishing a professional reputation for engineers based on competence, merit, honesty, integrity, and fair competition. It also emphasizes continuous development and lifelong learning, fostering professional expertise and distinguished personal skills while ensuring adherence to ethical standards. Additionally, the charter seeks to enhance the profession's status both locally and internationally, prevent conflicts of interest, and promote the delivery of professional services with honesty and objectivity. It also underscores compliance with occupational safety standards to safeguard public interests and community welfare.
The Engineer's Charter emphasizes several fundamental principles that all engineering professionals must adhere to. Engineers are required to demonstrate humility, moderation, honesty, integrity, and transparency, serving as role models within their profession. They must avoid any actions or behaviors that compromise public interest for personal gain and build their professional reputation on competence, merit, and fair competition, refraining from unethical competitive practices.
Additionally, engineers must uphold public decorum, refraining from making inappropriate remarks about colleagues, government entities, private organizations, or individuals, whether directly or indirectly. When drafting contracts, they must ensure clarity, precision, and compliance with national regulations. Furthermore, engineers are expected to maintain accuracy, objectivity, and professionalism when advertising their engineering services and must respect intellectual property rights, avoiding any infringement or harm to others' work.
Professional responsibility must be built on ethical principles recognized by society, and engineers must refrain from supporting or engaging in activities that violate religious or national regulations. Their expertise and skills should be dedicated to serving the profession and their affiliated organizations, and they must take full responsibility for the safety and quality of the engineering solutions they design and implement.
Additionally, engineers are obligated to protect the confidentiality of information, contracts, and engineering projects they are involved in and must not disclose or publicize such details without prior authorization. They must also act with fairness and integrity, ensuring that company equipment, tools, and materials are not used for personal benefit without explicit approval.
Furthermore, engineers must avoid conflicts of interest in the services and projects they undertake and must immediately disclose any potential conflicts to relevant stakeholders. When assessing contracts and engineering services, they must prioritize public interest in cost estimation, ensuring that their assessments and practices are based on appropriate expertise and professional experience.