The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has approved the Municipal Requirements for Commercial Data Centers, in a step aimed at enhancing the readiness of the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure, establishing a clearer regulatory environment for the growth of this vital sector, and streamlining the investor journey for establishing, developing, and operating data centers in accordance with unified and clear requirements. The requirements stem from the vital role that data centers play in the digital economy, as they represent one of the fundamental pillars on which the government and private sectors rely to manage, process, and store data, support the continuity of digital services and business efficiency, and strengthen the Kingdom’s capacity to sustain its digital growth. The requirements apply to independent commercial data center sites within or outside the urban boundary, provided they are easily accessible to operation and maintenance teams and have access to essential services, including electricity, telecommunications, and transport. They must also comply with approved building regulations and requirements related to parking, setbacks, heights, landscaping, and any regulatory requirements issued by the relevant entities. The requirements provide greater clarity for investors and reduce inconsistencies in the procedures and requirements for establishing and operating data centers. They establish a regulatory framework that defines spatial, technical, and operational requirements and supports the standardization of procedures and requirements governing the activity across the Kingdom. Licensing requirements include obtaining Civil Defense approval before the license is issued, submitting a valid commercial registration covering the activity or activities for which licensing is requested, and obtaining approval from the entity supervising the activity. Procedures for issuing, renewing, amending, suspending, and cancelling the license are subject to the Municipal Licensing Procedures Law and its Implementing Regulations. The requirements mandate that commercial data centers comply with the Saudi Building Code and that design and construction supervision be undertaken by accredited engineering offices. They must also follow relevant international and local standards, including requirements for construction, design, fire protection, cooling systems, electrical power, and backup systems, thereby enhancing the quality, reliability, and operational continuity of these facilities. The requirements also cover facades and general appearance, lighting, flooring, ceilings, universal access for persons with disabilities, periodic maintenance, waste management, and security surveillance systems. They also require displaying the Unified Electronic Code, which provides access to the facility’s regulatory data and documents. The Ministry affirmed that approving the requirements represents a regulatory step that supports the growth of the data center sector by providing a more reliable and sustainable environment, stimulating investment and innovation in information technology, and enabling digital infrastructure to keep pace with the expansion of digital services. These efforts enhance the Kingdom’s regional and international competitiveness and support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry noted that the requirements take effect from the date of their publication. The Ministry invited investors and relevant stakeholders to review the Municipal Requirements for Commercial Data Centers and comply with the approved regulatory, technical, and operational requirements through the following link: https://momah.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2026-06/alashtratat%20albldyt%20lmrakz%20albyanat%20altjaryt%20%2B%20qrar%20ala%60tmad_0.pdf
The Municipal and Housing Ecosystem recorded more than 3 million volunteer hours during the first half of 2026, with the participation of more than 179,000 volunteers through more than 6,700 volunteer opportunities delivered across Amanahs, municipalities, and housing entities, with the participation of associations and non-profit institutions, within the Municipal and Housing Volunteering Tracks. The volunteer opportunities were distributed across a number of tracks linked to the work of the municipal and housing sectors, covering support for housing services, parks and public facilities, serving pilgrims and visitors, environmental safety, as well as roads and basic infrastructure. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing oversees the volunteer work ecosystem in the municipal and housing sectors by developing frameworks and tracks, enabling affiliated and partner entities, and monitoring performance and measuring impact. Amanahs, municipalities, housing entities, associations, and non-profit institutions develop volunteer opportunities, implement initiatives, and manage volunteer participation on the ground. The Municipal and Housing Ecosystem recorded the participation of more than 300,000 volunteers during 2025, across tracks covering housing, urban landscape improvement, inspection and monitoring, food preservation, honoring the deceased, and comprehensive volunteering. The Ministry affirmed that it will continue to oversee the development of the volunteer work ecosystem, enable its entities and partners, and strengthen integration with the non-profit sector, contributing to expanding the scope of volunteer opportunities, improving the quality of initiatives, and maximizing their social and developmental impact.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced the issuance of more than 38,000 occupancy certificates for buildings and facilities across the Kingdom during the first half of 2026, compared with approximately 25,000 certificates during the same period last year, representing an increase of more than 13,000 certificates and a growth rate of 55 percent. The Ministry explained that the occupancy certificate is a key milestone in the construction and urban development cycle. It is issued after verifying that the building or facility has met the approved technical, regulatory, and municipal requirements and confirming its readiness for use and operation in accordance with the applicable regulations. The Ministry affirmed that the growth in the number of certificates issued coincided with the enhancement of the municipal services ecosystem, improved procedural efficiency, and the expansion of digital services provided to beneficiaries, contributing to faster application processing and an improved beneficiary experience. The Ministry indicated that the occupancy certificate strengthens compliance with municipal requirements and the Saudi Building Code, supports building safety and readiness for use, helps reduce Visual Pollution, and ensures that sites are cleared of construction waste. It noted that the certificate is issued after construction and finishing works are completed and compliance with the approved requirements has been verified. The Ministry noted that the procedures for obtaining an occupancy certificate begin with selecting the building permit through the "Balady" platform and designating an approved engineering office to complete the technical requirements and submit the engineering report. The application is then reviewed, and the building undergoes an on-site inspection by the relevant municipal authority before the certificate is approved and issued electronically upon payment of the applicable fees.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has confirmed that the requirements regulating the "Mobile Vendor" activity identify nine locations where the activity is not permitted, as part of the requirements for regulating the activity in a manner that observes safety, maintains the smooth flow of traffic and the use of public facilities, and contributes to enhancing quality of life in cities. The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rasasimah, explained that these locations include: road intersections, central road medians, parking spaces for persons with disabilities, entrances and exits of main roads, sites adjacent to traffic signals, public vehicle parking areas, bicycle lanes, and roads with high traffic density, in addition to locations designated for the police, traffic authorities, civil defense, and ambulance services. Al-Rasasimah stated that identifying the locations where the activity is permitted serves to regulate the "Mobile Vendor" activity in order to observe the safety of road users and pedestrians, prevent the obstruction of traffic or any impact on the designated purpose of public sites and facilities, and strengthen compliance with the municipal requirements regulating the activity. He added that the updated requirements regulate the spatial, operational, and technical aspects of the activity, and set out the requirements relating to the locations where the activity is practiced, points of sale, and mobile carts, with the aim of providing a clear framework for those practicing the activity that observes safety requirements. He noted that regulating the locations where the activity is practiced forms part of the updated "Mobile Vendor" requirements, which aim to provide a suitable regulatory environment for self-employment, organize commercial activities, limit unregulated practices, and raise the level of compliance, leading to an improved built environment and urban landscape. He affirmed that the Amanahs and Municipalities are responsible for following up on the implementation of the requirements at these locations as part of municipal inspection work. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing called for the reporting of observations and municipal violations related to the practice of this activity through the unified number (940) or through the "Balady" application, which contributes to addressing them promptly and preserving the safety of roads and public facilities. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing had previously adopted the designation "Mobile Vendor" in place of "Street Vendors", as part of a package of updated requirements aimed at regulating the activity, enabling those who practice it, and improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has confirmed that the corrective period granted to owners of vacant land ends in 45 days, on 15 Rabi‘ al-Thani 1448 AH (26 September 2026), calling on owners to take the initiative to rectify the status of their land and to comply with the approved municipal requirements and controls before the period expires. The Ministry explained that the period aims to raise the level of compliance on vacant land and to address the uses and practices in violation of the regulations that affect the general appearance of cities and governorates, most notably the accumulation of construction waste and excavation spoil, and the use of land in ways that do not comply with the regulations. It stated that the Amanahs and Municipalities carry out follow-up and field inspection work on vacant land across the regions of the Kingdom to detect and address violations in accordance with the approved municipal regulations and requirements, which contributes to raising the level of compliance and limiting instances of visual distortion. The Ministry noted that compliance with the requirements regulating vacant land contributes to improving the urban landscape, raising the quality of the built environment, and enhancing quality of life in cities and governorates. It called on owners of vacant land to make use of the remaining time in the period and to take the initiative to address the status of their land before it expires, in order to avoid the statutory measures arising from violations. The Ministry affirmed that the Amanahs and Municipalities are continuing to implement programs and initiatives to improve the urban landscape across the regions of the Kingdom, in support of quality of life targets and sustainable urban development.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing continues to develop the food safety system across the regions of the Kingdom by updating health requirements, raising the efficiency of field inspection, and applying technical solutions in the follow-up of food establishments and the protection of consumer health. The Ministry explained that this work includes updating the technical and health requirements for food establishments, developing health certificates for workers and raising the efficiency of issuing them electronically, in addition to qualifying the workforce in the sector and improving practices related to food safety. On the inspection side, the Amanahs and Municipalities conduct field visits to restaurants, kitchens, and food retail outlets to verify compliance with health requirements, review the methods of preparing, storing, and handling food, detect violations, and take statutory measures against non-compliant establishments. The Ministry has adopted portable cameras as a principal means within the smart inspection system, where they are used to document field visits with audio and video and to link them directly to the "Momtathl" application, which raises the level of transparency and safeguards the rights of inspectors and establishment owners during the conduct of inspection work. Documenting visits in the field helps to accelerate the handling of complaints and observations, improve the performance of inspectors, and raise the quality of inspection procedures, in addition to providing a documented record that supports follow-up and verification of compliance with the approved regulations and procedures. These efforts are integrated with the existing coordination between the Amanahs and Municipalities and the entities concerned with health and food safety, alongside comprehensive inspection work and the follow-up of compliance levels at food establishments across the regions of the Kingdom. The Ministry called on members of the community to report observations and violations at food establishments through the unified number (940) or the "Balady" platform, stressing the importance of community participation in supporting inspection work, accelerating the handling of reports, and preserving food safety. It is worth noting that the inspection coverage rate for food establishments reached 97 percent during the first half of 2026, as part of the visits carried out by the Amanahs and Municipalities to follow up on compliance with health requirements and limit practices in violation of the regulations.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has launched the Contractor Qualification Service for the Municipal Sector through the Balady Business platform, enabling contracting companies to meet qualification requirements and obtain accreditation in accordance with unified standards, while enhancing the efficiency of service providers and strengthening their readiness to deliver municipal works and projects. The Ministry explained that the service organizes the contractor qualification process, beginning with the completion of regulatory and technical requirements, followed by an assessment of each company against quality and operational readiness standards, and leading to accreditation for the targeted municipal services and areas. It stated that the qualification requirements include holding a valid commercial registration and municipal license, holding the required contractor classification certificate and memberships, and having the necessary technical personnel and expertise, in addition to completing the required data and documents through the Balady Business platform. It affirmed that the service applies unified assessment standards to assess contractors' efficiency, reliability, readiness, and capacity to carry out works and deliver municipal services in accordance with the approved technical and professional requirements. The Ministry indicated that contracting companies have been granted a grace period until June 30, 2027, to complete the qualification and accreditation requirements, encouraging them to take advantage of the grace period and promptly complete the required procedures through the platform. It added that qualification enables contracting companies to become eligible and ready to operate within the targeted municipal services and areas, while improving the quality of completed works and the efficiency of service delivery to beneficiaries. The Ministry noted that the service is available electronically through the Balady Business platform, where companies can complete their data, attach the required documents, and track the qualification process through to final accreditation.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing affirmed the importance of complying with the safety requirements set out in the Updated Guide to the Health and Technical Requirements for Group Housing for Individuals, stressing the responsibility of establishment owners to provide a safe residential environment and to raise the level of readiness to deal with emergencies. The Ministry explained that the safety framework begins with maintaining the readiness of evacuation routes and emergency exits and keeping them free of obstructions; providing illuminated directional signage and backup lighting systems that operate automatically in the event of a power outage; and fitting emergency doors with mechanisms that allow them to be opened easily from the inside, ensuring that locking systems do not impede their use during evacuation. It stressed the need to verify the readiness of alarm and firefighting systems and to carry out periodic maintenance on them, to prevent unregulated storage inside housing facilities or in corridors and exits, and to observe the approved occupancy capacity of each establishment, thereby limiting risks and raising the level of prevention. The Ministry called on establishments and employers to prepare approved evacuation plans in accordance with statutory requirements, to display evacuation diagrams in prominent and easily visible locations, to clearly mark emergency exits and assembly points, and to ensure that all housing occupants are aware of the procedures to be followed when an emergency occurs. It affirmed that the readiness of personnel is a fundamental pillar of the safety framework, which requires training housing occupants periodically on evacuation procedures, conducting drills that simulate emergencies, and familiarizing them with the safe use of first-response firefighting equipment, in order to strengthen the speed of response and sound decision-making. The Ministry concluded by affirming that adherence to safety requirements is not limited to meeting statutory requirements; it also represents a direct responsibility to prevent incidents and preserve the safety of residents. It noted that readiness and a proper response during the first minutes of any emergency contribute to reducing losses and to providing a safe and sustainable group housing environment.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing issued more than 34,000 building permits across the regions of the Kingdom during the period from January to the end of June 2026, as part of its efforts to regulate construction work, simplify procedures, and keep pace with the urban development activity taking place in cities and governorates. The Ministry explained that residential permits accounted for the largest share of the total permits issued, exceeding 28,000 permits, while commercial permits numbered more than 5,000, in addition to over 1,000 permits for government buildings. It stated that the development of the municipal licensing framework and the expansion of the digital solutions available through the Balady platform have both contributed to simplifying permit issuance procedures, accelerating the processing of applications, and improving the user experience, as well as increasing the efficiency of coordination between the relevant authorities. The Ministry affirmed that the volume of permits issued reflects the diversity of urban development projects across the residential, commercial, and government sectors and keeps pace with development expansion in the various regions of the Kingdom, in addition to its role in supporting investment and developing the built environment. It noted that work will continue with the municipalities and sub-municipalities to improve licensing procedures, develop the related digital solutions, and enhance performance efficiency, in a manner that supports the quality of municipal services, elevates the urban landscape, and contributes to achieving the targets of Saudi Vision 2030. This comes as an extension of the Ministry's efforts to develop the municipal licensing framework. The Ministry recently announced the issuance and renewal of more than 274,000 commercial licenses during the first half of 2026, comprising the issuance of more than 97,000 new commercial licenses and the renewal of over 177,000 licenses, in addition to the completion of more than 91,000 amendments to commercial licenses, over 43,000 transactions to add commercial activities, and approximately 39,000 transactions to transfer license ownership, as part of efforts to strengthen the investment environment and expand the range of digital services provided through the Balady platform.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has intensified its inspection efforts targeting food establishments across the regions of the Kingdom, working through the municipalities and sub-municipalities and in coordination with the relevant authorities, in order to strengthen food safety and reduce cases of food poisoning. The Ministry explained that inspection coverage of food establishments reached 97 percent during the first half of 2026, and that the municipalities and sub-municipalities will continue to widen the scope of field visits and increase their frequency in the period ahead, to complete inspection coverage, strengthen compliance with health requirements, and protect consumer health. It confirmed that the municipalities and sub-municipalities carry out field inspection visits to restaurants, kitchens, and food retail outlets to verify compliance with health requirements and with the laws and regulations governing food activities, to record violations, and to take statutory action against non-compliant establishments, thereby safeguarding public health and raising the quality of the services provided. The Ministry noted that continuous coordination between the municipalities and sub-municipalities and partner entities strengthens the efficiency of the food safety framework and raises the level of readiness and responsiveness to reports and violations related to food activities. It called on members of the public to report food establishments that do not comply with health requirements through the unified number (940) or the Balady platform, affirming that community participation supports field inspection work and helps to identify and address reports quickly.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has confirmed the availability of the electronic commercial license renewal service through the "Balady" platform, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop digital municipal services, raise the quality of services provided to beneficiaries, and strengthen the business environment, in line with the digital transformation goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry’s Official Spokesperson, Mohammed Alrasasimah, explained that the commercial license renewal service enables establishment owners to complete all renewal procedures electronically by logging in to the "Balady" platform through Nafath / National Unified Access (Absher), selecting the commercial license renewal service, completing the application, and paying the fees, without needing to visit municipality offices. He noted that among the most prominent requirements for renewing a license is proof of the right to use the site, whether through a valid lease contract registered on the "Ejar" platform, a title deed, or an investment contract, in addition to fulfilling the Civil Defense requirements of the Safety Portal according to the nature of the activity. He pointed out that a license may be renewed up to 90 days before its expiry, and that expired licenses may also be renewed in accordance with the applicable regulations. Alrasasimah indicated that the failure of commercial license data to appear when submitting a renewal application may be linked to the ID registered on the license or the commercial registration, stressing the importance of verifying the data through the electronic inquiry services on the "Balady" platform, and the necessity of the commercial registration being valid in order to complete the renewal procedures, as the service cannot be carried out if the registration has expired until it is renewed. He added that the "Balady" platform also provides an electronic commercial license cancellation service if the activity ceases or there is no desire to continue practicing it, through simple electronic steps that include selecting the license to be cancelled, completing the application data, and paying any due fees, if applicable. He affirmed that the "Balady" platform is one of the most prominent digital enablers of the municipal sector, as it provides an integrated package of municipal services electronically, contributing to simplifying procedures, raising the efficiency of services, improving the beneficiary experience, enhancing transparency, and supporting digital transformation in the municipal sector. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has called on owners of commercial establishments to make use of the electronic services provided by the "Balady" platform to ensure commercial licenses are renewed before their expiry, and to review the regulatory conditions and requirements, to guarantee the continuity of commercial activities and to benefit from municipal services with ease and convenience.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has reaffirmed the continuation of inspection and monitoring activities at group housing facilities for individuals across the Kingdom. The Ministry noted that reports submitted through the Balady platform or via the unified contact number 940 serve as an effective supporting channel, enabling the relevant authorities to identify and address violations and promote compliance with technical, health, and safety requirements. The Ministry explained that receiving reports through official channels enhances the efficiency of monitoring and follow-up activities. It also enables specialized teams to respond promptly to violations and take the necessary regulatory measures, helping protect public health and safety and reduce unlawful practices that could negatively affect the quality of residential neighborhoods. The Ministry indicated that regulating group housing for individuals forms part of a broader, integrated effort led through the National Program for the Development of Group Housing for Individuals, in partnership with the relevant government entities. The program aims to develop and regulate the sector, improve the quality of housing designated for workers, and provide safe, healthy, and sustainable residential environments. These efforts support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to improve quality of life and enhance the sustainability of cities. The Ministry emphasized that it will continue coordinating with the relevant entities to raise compliance with the regulations and requirements governing group housing, alongside the continuation of field inspection campaigns. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing called on members of the public to use official reporting channels whenever they observe a violation. It stressed that community awareness and effective reporting support the work of regulatory authorities, accelerate the resolution of reported issues, and help maintain the quality of residential environments.