In off-plan sales projects, the consulting office is one of three parties that sign every disbursement document from the escrow account. Not a riyal of buyers' money is paid out until the consultant has verified that the corresponding work has actually been done. That is why the implementing regulations set special conditions for its accreditation and give it responsibilities beyond traditional supervision. This guide explains the consulting office's accreditation conditions, the classification grades and project value limits, its regulatory responsibilities, and how a developer chooses the right consultant.
Consulting Office Accreditation Conditions (Article 6)
- A valid commercial registration.
- 10% or 5 of the office's engineers, whichever is less, passing the qualification programme approved by the authority, with the licensed project manager among them.
- A licence from the Saudi Council of Engineers.
- If a single project's value exceeds 25 million riyals: a Balady city service provider classification certificate covering construction project management, engineering and architectural consultancy, and urban planning engineering consultancy.
Classification Grade and Project Value Limit
| Classification grade | Maximum value of a single project |
|---|---|
| First | Unlimited |
| Second | 1 billion riyals |
| Third | 500 million riyals |
| Fourth | 250 million riyals |
| Fifth | 100 million riyals |
The Consultant's Responsibilities in the Regulations
- Certifying disbursement documents from the escrow account with the chartered accountant, including the amounts and their justification. Read: The escrow account and buyer protection.
- Project progress reports required by the authority monthly or quarterly depending on the project's size. Read: Progress reports in Wafi.
- Notifying the authority of any violation of the law and regulations or any breach by the developer of its obligations to buyers within 5 working days of becoming aware of it.
- Certifying the final financial report when the developer requests withdrawal of the surplus.
- Defects found in construction or finishing prevent release of the retained amount.
The consulting office's reports are made public in the projects database.
How to Choose the Right Consultant
- Check that the Article 6 conditions are met, and that the classification grade suits your project's value.
- Ask about its experience with Wafi projects and progress reports.
- Make sure it has a field supervision team sufficient for the project's size. Read: What is different about supervising Wafi projects?.
- Set out in the agreement the scope of work, reports and the disbursement certification mechanism.
A good consultant prevents disputes before they start. Read: How the consultant prevents disputes and delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any engineering office work on Wafi projects?
It must meet the conditions of Article 6, including the qualification programme, licensing, and classification for large projects.
Does the consultant represent the developer?
It is an independent party with regulatory obligations, including reporting the developer's violations.
Can the consultant be changed during the project?
This is subject to the authority's procedures and the agreements, because the consultant is a party to the disbursement mechanism.
Who pays the consultant's fees?
The developer under the agreement, while the consultant remains independent in its regulatory obligations.
Does the consultant review quality or only progress?
Both; defects in construction or finishing prevent release of the retained amount.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that acts as consultant for off-plan projects, coordinates between the developer and contractor, certifies disbursement documents after site verification, and prepares progress reports in line with the regulations. See our Wafi developer-contractor coordination service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.