In Saudi Arabia, there's a rising emphasis on construction quality and the long-term reliability of buildings, which have led to the creation of stronger frameworks for managing risk throughout the construction lifecycle.
One such initiative is the Inherent Defects Insurance (IDI) program, led by Tawuniya insurance company. This program, applying to all constructions across the Kingdom, helps build confidence in the built environment by addressing structural risks before they happen.
What is the IDI Program and why it matters
The IDI program aims to shield property owners, developers, and investors from issues where structural defects might only show up after a construction project wraps up.
By integrating independent technical assessments into the construction lifecycle, the program helps identify any potential risks related to design, materials or any other elements, at an early stage. This aims to reduce long-term financial risk and support higher building standards in the country.
Our role in supporting IDI implementation
Under this initiative, SGS has joined as a Technical Inspection Service (TIS) provider, working with Tawuniya insurance company. SGS lends its expertise by offering independent technical oversight on insured construction projects.
This involves:
- Reviewing design documents before construction starts
- Performing inspections at crucial stages of project execution
- Focusing on critical areas such as structural components and waterproofing systems, which are vital for ensuring durability in buildings.
- Providing Risk Definition (RD) reports, to support insurance risk evaluation
Strengthening trust in KSA’s built environment
The IDI framework highlights an important step that has been taken towards improving the quality of construction and bringing in transparency to the whole process of managing risk in KSA. The independent inspection services within the IDI framework show the shift that’s happening in the construction sector – going from reactively solving issues to proactively preventing risks.
Through independent design reviews, inspections and risk reporting, SGS aims to support reliable built assets and peace of mind to all stakeholders involved. For contractors and developers, this means early identification of potential issues, reduced costs associated with reworks, and improvement in quality of project outcomes. For building owners and investors, it also means more confidence in the durability and long-term performance of buildings.
SGS’s participation reinforces its role in supporting the industry with independent testing, inspection and certification services, helping deliver a safer, more dependable, and long-lasting infrastructure.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).
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