The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing is intensifying its efforts to raise the level of compliance on vacant land and to reduce manifestations of visual distortion, calling on landowners to make use of the corrective grace period extended until 15/4/1448 AH, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the urban landscape and enhance the quality of the built environment in the Kingdom’s cities and governorates. The Ministry explained that the current phase focuses on strengthening adherence to municipal requirements and regulations governing vacant land, and on addressing non-compliant uses that affect the general appearance of cities, most notably the accumulation of construction waste and excavation debris, or the unlawful use of land. It affirmed that the regional and local municipalities continue their field follow-up and oversight of vacant land across the various regions, helping to raise the level of compliance, curb non-compliant practices, and improve the quality of the built environment. The Ministry added that compliance with vacant land helps reduce manifestations of visual distortion, raise the efficiency of the urban landscape, and improve the quality of life in cities and governorates, which positively reflects on the built environment and on the attractiveness of cities to residents, visitors, and investors. It called on owners of vacant land to take the initiative to rectify the status of their land and to comply with the approved municipal requirements before the corrective grace period ends, in order to avoid the statutory measures resulting from violations. The Ministry noted that the regional and local municipalities continue to implement urban-landscape improvement programs and initiatives across the Kingdom’s regions, contributing to the development of public facilities, roads, and urban spaces, and supporting the targets of quality of life and sustainable urban development.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by Holy Makkah Municipality, has announced the success of its operational plan for Hajj season 1447 AH, which was implemented through an integrated field system to serve the Guests of the Most Merciful in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites, supported by more than 22,000 human personnel and 3,000 pieces of equipment and machinery that operated around the clock throughout the season. The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rasasimah, explained that the cleanliness and environmental sanitation activities resulted in the removal of more than 250,000 tons of waste in Holy Makkah since 15 Dhu al-Qaʼdah, at a daily average exceeding 6,000 tons, in addition to the removal of more than 16,000 tons of refuse and waste at the Holy Sites during the Hajj season, at a daily average exceeding 200 tons, through an operational system supported by more than 88,000 cleanliness units, which included containers, compaction and pressing units, and ground storage facilities. Al-Rasasimah noted that the specialized teams carried out more than 38,000 inspection visits to catering kitchens and food establishments in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites, in addition to testing more than 5,000 food samples through field and fixed laboratories, while — praise be to God — no cases of food poisoning were recorded during Hajj season 1447 AH. He affirmed that the season witnessed the participation of more than 21,000 male and female volunteers who contributed to supporting the field, organizational, and awareness services provided to pilgrims, through guidance, group marshaling, and the distribution of water, umbrellas, and awareness gifts, in a way that enhances the quality of the services provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful. Al-Rasasimah commended the results achieved during the season, affirming that this comes as an extension of the great support that the wise leadership — may God support it — provides to serving the Guests of the Most Merciful, and the harnessing of all human, operational, and technical capabilities to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with complete ease and tranquility, and to raise the efficiency of the municipal services provided in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites.
The results of the health and food monitoring activities carried out by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by Holy Makkah Municipality, during Hajj season 1447 AH, showed the conduct of more than 29,000 inspection visits to catering kitchens and food establishments in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites, in addition to the testing of more than 5,000 food samples through field and fixed laboratories, as part of a monitoring system aimed at enhancing the safety of the food provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful during the season. The Ministry explained that the monitoring activities covered central markets, storage sites, and catering establishments, in addition to field campaigns aimed at enhancing food safety and raising the level of compliance in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites during the Hajj season. The Ministry affirmed that the food monitoring system operated in the field through 5 mobile laboratories, 10 on-site testing devices, and approximately 40 monitoring vehicles, which enhanced the speed of verifying food safety and the immediate handling of observations at high-density locations associated with the movement of pilgrims and their transit between the Holy Sites. The Ministry also clarified that — praise be to God — no cases of food poisoning have been recorded during Hajj season 1447 AH to date. This comes as an extension of the efforts of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing during the Days of Tashreeq, through the continued implementation of its operational and monitoring plans at the Mina site, and the raising of the readiness of field teams and municipal service centers, to ensure the continuity of cleanliness, environmental sanitation, and health monitoring activities, in a way that contributes to enhancing the quality of the services provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful and enabling them to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing intensified its health monitoring and food safety activities in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites as part of its operational preparations for Hajj season 1447 AH, with the aim of enhancing compliance and raising the level of safety in food and commercial establishments. The Ministry explained that the operational system comprises more than 380 catering and food safety inspectors and 403 environmental sanitation personnel, which supports the efficiency of field monitoring and increases the speed of response at the targeted locations. The Ministry affirmed that monitoring activities are supported by 5 advanced laboratories with an operational capacity of up to 1,300 samples per day, equivalent to testing one sample every minute, to ensure the safety of the food, water, and services provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful. Inspectors also carry out more than 2,800 inspection visits per day to food and commercial establishments, which contributes to raising compliance levels and enhancing the efficiency of the services provided during the season. These activities come as part of an integrated monitoring system implemented by the Ministry in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites, within its plans aimed at raising the quality of the municipal and health services provided to pilgrims during Hajj season 1447 AH. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing had announced, as part of its operational plans for Hajj season 1447 AH, the implementation of more than 11 million linear meters of roads, and the treatment and development of nearly 74 million m² of road surfaces, in addition to raising the readiness of 123 bridges and 44 tunnels for pedestrians and vehicles, and preparing 62 additional tunnels within the movement and mobility system at the Holy Sites, as well as operating 66 field service centers, including 28 centers within the Holy Sites, and constructing and equipping 20 pedestrian bridges and 18 tunnels, which supports the speed of response and raises the efficiency of movement and operational services at high-density locations, in addition to operating more than 330,000 lighting units and 150,000 lighting poles in Holy Makkah and the Holy Sites, which enhances safety levels and the quality of the services provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful. The Ministry, represented by the regional municipalities, also prepared more than 4,500 male and female volunteers within the municipal volunteering system to take part in serving the Guests of the Most Merciful at vital locations, entry points, and the roads leading to the Holy Sites, in support of operational and service efforts during the season.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the regional municipalities, has prepared more than 4,500 male and female volunteers to take part in serving the Guests of the Most Merciful during Hajj season 1447 AH, as part of its efforts to enhance the readiness of the municipal volunteering system at vital locations and to raise the efficiency of municipal services during the season. The Ministry explained that the municipal volunteering system falls within a plan that targets the participation of more than 20,000 male and female volunteers, to assist in receiving pilgrims through land and air entry points, preparing municipal facilities and sites, and carrying out volunteer work at the Holy Sites, in addition to supporting the departure stages and bidding farewell to the Guests of the Most Merciful. It indicated that the volunteers participate in a number of field tracks, including guidance, assistance, and site services, and supporting the municipal teams in operational and service work, in a way that enhances the presence of volunteer work and contributes to providing a smooth and safe experience for pilgrims. The Ministry affirmed that the municipal volunteering efforts come within an integrated service system implemented by the relevant authorities during the Hajj season, as an extension of the care and attention given to the Guests of the Most Merciful by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Trustworthy Crown Prince — may God protect them — and the harnessing of all capabilities to serve them from their arrival in the Kingdom until their departure. Within its operational plans for Hajj season 1447 AH, the Ministry is working to raise municipal and service readiness in Holy Makkah, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, the Holy Sites, and the entry points and roads leading to them, in a way that keeps pace with the density of movement during the season and enhances the quality of the services provided to pilgrims.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by Holy Makkah Municipality, has announced the completion of its operational and service preparations for Hajj season 1447 AH, through an integrated municipal system that aims to enhance safety and public health and to raise the efficiency of field response at the various vital locations. The Ministry explained that its preparations included the deployment of more than 22,000 field personnel and over 3,000 machines and pieces of equipment, in addition to emergency teams operating around the clock, shelter halls, and fixed and mobile laboratories, in support of the readiness of field work during the season. The Ministry carried out extensive work in preparing roads and infrastructure, which included an internal road network exceeding 73 million square meters in area, supported by 123 bridges and 44 tunnels for pedestrians and vehicles, in addition to preparing lighting networks and raising the readiness of the municipal elements associated with the smooth flow of movement and the safety of the Guests of the Most Merciful. The Ministry also enhanced the readiness of the Holy Sites in Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah through prepared infrastructure extending over an area of 4.6 million square meters and including 20 bridges and 18 tunnels, which supports the movement of crowds and raises the efficiency of services at high-density locations. In the cleanliness, environmental sanitation, and food safety sector, the Ministry intensified its work through a cleanliness system comprising more than 88,000 cleanliness units, 113 ground storage facilities, and 1,235 compaction units, in addition to more than 13,000 cleanliness personnel, 403 environmental sanitation personnel, and 380 catering and food safety inspectors. The Ministry supports food safety activities through 5 advanced laboratories, at a rate of testing one sample every minute and with a capacity of up to 1,300 samples per day, while inspectors carry out more than 2,800 inspection visits per day, to ensure the safety of the food and commercial services provided to the Guests of the Most Merciful. The Ministry also supported its field services through 66 service centers, including 28 centers within the Holy Sites, which operate as field operations rooms that contribute to the speed of response and to raising the efficiency of handling reports and observations. With regard to municipal reports, the system handles, through the “Balady” platform, more than 29,000 reports, with an average response speed not exceeding one minute and 13 seconds per report, which enhances the ability of field teams to monitor the needs of vital locations and handle them efficiently. These preparations come within an integrated operational plan that the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has marshaled through its system to serve the Guests of the Most Merciful, enhance municipal readiness, and raise the efficiency of field performance during the Hajj season.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has adopted the designation “Mobile Vendor” as a replacement for “Street Vendors,” as part of a package of updated requirements aimed at regulating the activity, empowering its practitioners, and improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities. The Ministry explained that this update comes within the framework of its efforts to develop the regulatory environment for self-employment, through raising the level of compliance, curbing unregulated practices, and providing an organized environment that supports micro-investment, in a way that positively reflects on quality of life. The Ministry stated that the new requirements were issued following a comprehensive comparative analysis, which showed a clear transition from the previous regulatory framework to a more integrated model, as it included developing the definitions, expanding the scope of activities, and linking licenses to the vendor himself rather than to the location, in addition to strengthening the operational and technical requirements, including safety, cleanliness, electronic payment, and improving the experience of beneficiaries. It affirmed that the development of the requirements and the adoption of the new designation came as a result of integrated work led by a specialized team, which drew on a comprehensive analysis and a comparative study of the previous and proposed requirements, and on the input of the regional and local municipalities and the relevant authorities, which contributed to building a more precise and flexible regulatory framework that addresses existing challenges, keeps pace with market needs, and raises the efficiency of regulating the activity in a way that enhances its economic, regulatory, and urban impact. For her part, Her Royal Highness Princess Nojoud bint Hathloul Al Saud, the General Supervisor of the Team for the Support, Development, and Empowerment of the “Mobile Vendor,” explained that the adoption of the new designation reflects a shift in the view of this activity, from a traditional concept previously associated with disorganization, to an organized economic activity that carries a professional and investment dimension, and contributes to empowering individuals and enhancing their participation in the urban economy. She added that this approach grants the activity a more professional identity, enhances the community’s confidence in it, and keeps pace with the objectives of improving the urban landscape and elevating the quality of services in cities. The adoption of the “Mobile Vendor” designation is considered a strategic step that reflects a qualitative shift in regulating this sector, from a limited traditional activity to an active element in the local economy that contributes to supporting entrepreneurs, energizing urban spaces, and achieving a balance between economic opportunities and regulatory discipline.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing affirmed the importance of the commitment of establishments and individuals to the approved municipal requirements and regulations, in a way that contributes to protecting public facilities, improving the urban landscape, enhancing the levels of safety and public health in the cities and governorates of the Kingdom, and raising the quality of municipal services, consistent with the Ministry’s objectives of elevating quality of life and achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry explained that the update of the schedule of penalties for municipal violations comes within an integrated regulatory framework aimed at unifying procedures and enhancing transparency and clarity in applying penalties, as it defines the paths of remediation and action according to precise criteria that take into account the nature of the violation, its impact, and the extent of its recurrence, in addition to the classification of the regional and local municipalities and the size of the establishments, in a way that ensures fairness of application and raises the efficiency of compliance across the various activities subject to municipal supervision. It indicated that the approved schedule included clear mechanisms for handling violations that begin — in a number of non-serious cases — with a warning, followed by the granting of a corrective grace period before applying the penalty, in accordance with the type of violation and the nature of its impact, as the correction periods vary according to the observed case, which allows establishments and individuals to complete compliance requirements and address observations before the statutory procedures are completed. The Ministry stated that the regulation distinguished between serious and non-serious violations in the handling mechanism, as penalties are applied directly to violations with an impact related to safety or public health, or that require urgent intervention, while violations that can be remedied are granted a corrective grace period before the statutory procedure is completed, with a gradual application of penalties upon recurrence of the violation, in accordance with the governing provisions. It affirmed that this update comes as an extension of its ongoing efforts to develop the municipal monitoring system, through adopting regulatory paths that focus on early remediation, raising the level of compliance, and enhancing awareness of municipal requirements, in a way that contributes to reducing avoidable violations, supports the improvement of the urban environment, and raises the efficiency of the services provided to residents and visitors. The Ministry called on all establishments to take the initiative to review the approved requirements and controls, address observations, and make use of the corrective grace period whenever it applies, in a way that ensures business continuity and compliance with the approved statutory frameworks. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing had earlier approved updates to the schedule of penalties for municipal violations, which included the addition of a number of new violations related to the updated or new requirements, and also included an update to the provisions of a number of approved violations in a way that aligns with the public interest, within a development path aimed at unifying monitoring and remediation procedures, raising the efficiency of compliance, and enhancing transparency in applying municipal penalties. The schedule can be viewed via the link: https://2u.pw/LM8N9x
More than 4,700 male and female volunteers from general education students took part in carrying out field work to improve the urban landscape, in cooperation with 10 municipalities across the regions of the Kingdom, as part of the “Urban Beauty Cities” initiative launched by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, with the aim of enhancing quality of life and activating volunteer work in cities. The phase completed so far recorded the participation of (4,706) volunteers across 10 municipalities, which included: (Hail, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Jeddah, Taif, Najran, Al-Baha, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, Tabuk, and Jazan), while the initiative will complete its work over the coming period in seven other municipalities, namely: (the Northern Borders, Riyadh, Qassim, Hafar Al-Batin, Al-Jouf, the Holy Capital, and Asir), as part of a comprehensive plan covering 17 municipalities across the various regions of the Kingdom. The initiative was launched under the supervision of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the regional municipalities, in partnership with the Saudi National Bank (SNB), and implemented by Wathar Architecture Company Ltd., in an integrated model that brings together the municipal sector, the banking sector, and the education sector, in a way that enhances community sustainability and consolidates partnership in improving the urban environment. The “Urban Beauty Cities” initiative is one of the most prominent student volunteer projects of this year, as it targets, across its two phases during the first and second academic semesters, the participation of more than 10,000 male and female volunteers, at an average of five volunteer hours per participant, exceeding 50,000 volunteer hours directed toward direct field work in municipal facilities, schools, and public sites. The initiative is based on three main tracks, which include: (traffic safety, tree planting, and decorative painting), with the aim of improving the urban landscape, in addition to enhancing students’ participation in field work, developing their sense of responsibility toward public facilities, and entrenching the culture of volunteer work and community service. This initiative comes as an extension of the efforts of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing to empower the community and enhance its role as an active partner in developing cities, in a way that contributes to achieving urban development objectives, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arab National Bank (ANB) and the Kafa’a Association for Operation and Maintenance, aimed at establishing integrated business incubators that enable authorized mobile vendors certified by the Ministry to operate in a safe, regulated environment at affordable costs. The MoU was signed on behalf of the Ministry by the General Supervisor of the Street Vendors Support and Empowerment Team, Her Royal Highness Princess Noujoud bint Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. On behalf of ANB, the agreement was signed by the Head of Retail Banking, Khaled Al-Rashed, while the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hamoud bin Obaid Al-Anazi, signed on behalf of the Kafa’a Association. Under the terms of the MoU, ANB will finance the establishment of business incubators, while the Kafa’a Association will undertake the construction, operation, maintenance, and development of the facilities. The Association will also hand over sales outlets to beneficiaries and deliver training programs designed to enhance product quality and strengthen the competitive edge of authorized mobile vendors. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing will provide overall supervision of the initiative’s implementation and coordinate with the relevant authorities, contributing to the provision of standardized, model sales outlets across the Kingdom’s regions. This partnership is an extension of the Ministry’s efforts to regulate the activities of authorized mobile vendors and empower them economically, while strengthening collaboration among the public, private, and non-profit sectors to support employment opportunities and develop small enterprises, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, in cooperation with regional municipalities, launched the “Bastat Khair Saudi Arabia” initiative, which aims to regulate the activities of authorized mobile vendors and empower them economically through approved locations and sales outlets that meet standardized requirements. The second season of the initiative was launched at the beginning of the current month of Ramadan across various regions of the Kingdom, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to develop the working environment for authorized mobile vendors and transform their operating locations into organized commercial models that contribute to improving the urban landscape and enhancing quality of life, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing continues to implement a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at raising road safety standards and improving road quality by addressing elements of visual distortion that affect the clarity of the urban landscape and traffic flow within cities. These efforts form part of the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing quality of life and building safer, more organized urban environments. The initiatives focus on addressing field-level elements that have a direct impact on driver behavior and pedestrian safety. Municipalities have commenced work that includes painting sidewalk barriers, rehabilitating ground markings to improve their visibility, and repairing potholes and damaged road sections, all of which contribute to enhancing lane clarity and improving the commuting experience. The work also includes reorganizing speed bumps and adjusting their placement in accordance with approved national standards, rehabilitating deteriorated sidewalks, and addressing concrete barrier locations to reduce visual clutter and enhance traffic safety for drivers. Efforts further extend to addressing behaviors associated with the unregulated use of roads, including curbing unauthorized parking on vital traffic lanes and removing damaged vehicles from public areas, as these create obstacles that affect road readability and safe decision-making while driving. The Ministry affirms that improving the urban landscape is a fundamental pillar in raising road safety standards, as the regularity and clarity of road elements help reduce potential risks and boost confidence among road users. The Ministry noted that it is working in collaboration with municipalities to integrate field efforts with community awareness, based on the principle that the urban landscape is a shared responsibility requiring active community participation. In this context, the Ministry has made direct reporting channels available for observations related to road quality and visual distortions through the “Baladi” platform and the municipal hotline 940, enabling community members to contribute to identifying issues and tracking their resolution through organized procedures. This integration between institutional efforts and community participation enhances response efficiency and raises the level of organization within cities. These initiatives are part of a comprehensive program undertaken by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing to develop road infrastructure and improve the urban landscape directly linked to user safety, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to building more livable cities and enhancing the sustainability of the urban environment and daily quality of life for residents.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has launched the second edition of the “Bastat Khair Saudi Arabia 2026” initiative, taking place during the holy month of Ramadan in partnership with regional municipalities. The initiative is part of the efforts of the Street Vendors Support and Empowerment Team at the Ministry to regulate the activities of street vendors and empower them by providing approved sales locations that enhance the quality of practice and improve the visitor experience, in support of the objectives of improving the urban landscape and quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities. The Ministry explained that the initiative is being rolled out with five locations per municipality, targeting up to 350 sales outlets per municipality. At least two locations in each municipality are designated for the sustainability track, ensuring continued operation of these sites beyond Ramadan and supporting the transition of the initiative from a seasonal activity to an organized, scalable, and sustainable model. The Ministry noted that the second edition is built on organizing sales locations in accordance with clear requirements and standardized operating criteria that contribute to raising compliance levels within approved sites and enhancing safety for vendors and visitors, alongside the implementation of continuous field inspections to ensure adherence to regulatory and health requirements. The Ministry affirmed that the initiative contributes to enhancing the civilized image of licensed stalls as an organized model that reflects city identity and improves the overall urban scene. This is achieved by unifying visual identity elements within the sites while respecting the local character of each region, thereby providing more sustainable economic opportunities for participants and opening a gradual pathway for transitioning from unregulated activities to a formal practice within clear regulatory frameworks. This, in turn, contributes to income stability, improved service quality, and enhanced reliability of the experience. The Ministry indicated that site selection for the initiative follows criteria related to location vitality and suitability for population density, proximity to public destinations such as parks, public squares, and waterfronts, availability of essential services, and long-term regulatory feasibility to ensure smooth traffic flow and clear operational and oversight pathways. Participant selection also takes into account compliance with regulatory and health requirements, clear definition of the activity, and a high level of commitment. The first edition of the “Bastat Khair Saudi Arabia 2025” initiative saw the participation of 1,732 vendors and attracted approximately 814,000 visitors, in addition to achieving a sustainability rate of 30% after the initiative’s conclusion and recording satisfaction levels of 90% among both participants and visitors. These results reflect the initiative’s economic and social impact and support the Ministry’s direction toward developing an organized and sustainable model for empowering street vendors across the Kingdom.