The Ministry of Municipality and Housing has adopted new regulatory requirements for juice shops, aimed at raising compliance levels, strengthening food safety, and controlling preparation, storage, and serving practices to ensure service quality and protect consumers. The Ministry explained that the regulations define planning standards for the locations of juice shops and kiosks, requiring them to be situated within approved commercial areas, on commercial streets, or in existing centers, with appropriate space allocated for each activity. It stressed that kiosks are prohibited near entrances or gathering areas unless a minimum distance of six meters is maintained, while allowing kiosks in shopping complex parking lots subject to municipal approval. The regulations also require independent functional areas within each shop, including separate zones for preparation, serving, and storage, to ensure process separation, higher hygiene standards, and prevention of contamination during beverage preparation. Furthermore, the Ministry noted that the regulations include multiple preventive measures, such as providing a clear list of products, ingredients, and potential allergens; prohibiting the serving of any beverage without accurate information on preparation date and components; and adhering to recommended cooling conditions. It emphasized that products not meeting the standards set by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority must not be displayed or sold. The Ministry highlighted the importance of providing signage that includes the unified QR code of the Saudi Business Center and a price list, as well as ensuring permanent availability of electronic payment methods. Shops must also display internal awareness materials promoting healthy practices, provide clean and tightly sealed waste containers, and designate a separate area for waste collection away from preparation zones to guarantee a safe operating environment. The Ministry of Municipality and Housing reaffirmed its commitment to continuously updating municipal requirements for various commercial and service activities, as part of its efforts to promote public health and improve service efficiency in Saudi cities. The regulations can be accessed through the provided link: https://momah.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2025-07/ashtratat%20mhlat%20al%60sayr-bqrar%20ala%60tmad.pdf.

The Ministry of Municipality and Housing has launched the second edition of the Municipal Performance Excellence Award 2025, dedicated to municipal authorities. The award aims to foster positive competition among municipalities and enhance the quality of services provided in Saudi cities, thereby contributing to improved quality of life and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The award seeks to encourage municipalities to adopt best practices in urban management, raise the efficiency of the municipal sector, and improve the beneficiary experience through more effective and innovative services. In the 2024 edition, the Qassim Municipality won first place and the Gold Category, while Riyadh Municipality received the Silver Category, and Madinah Municipality earned the Bronze Category. Additionally, the municipalities of the Eastern Region, Hail, and the Northern Borders were honored under the excellence tracks. The Ministry emphasized that the award is part of its efforts to instill a culture of institutional excellence in the municipal sector, motivating municipalities to elevate service levels and build more prosperous cities with a higher quality of life.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced that the “Certified Monitor” initiative has witnessed wide engagement since its launch last week, with more than 13,000 beneficiaries from across the Kingdom registering. Of these, over 5,000 participants successfully completed the accredited training programs and obtained the “Certified Monitor” certificate. During the same period, the platform received more than 2,000 reports of various municipal violations. The Ministry explained that the strong turnout reflects public awareness and eagerness to contribute to improving the urban landscape and addressing visual distortions. It emphasized that the initiative has become a national model for empowering society to play an active role in municipal oversight, reinforcing the principle of partnership and shared responsibility between citizens and the municipal sector. The Ministry noted that the “Certified Monitor” initiative builds on its efforts to develop field monitoring tools and transition toward smart, data-driven oversight using digital technologies. Through the “Baladi” platform, members of the community can register, complete a specialized online training course, and qualify as “Certified Monitors” authorized to report municipal violations by submitting documented reports with photos, geographic location, and accurate information. The Ministry added that all reports undergo a comprehensive digital verification system to ensure the accuracy of data, images, and locations provided. Reports are processed electronically until closure within a unified monitoring system. It further highlighted that the financial rewards mechanism grants participants up to 25% of the value of the recorded violation, based on specific criteria that consider the severity of the violation and the difficulty of detecting it. Since its launch, the initiative has contributed to strengthening field monitoring, accelerating the handling of violations, and improving response quality within municipalities and secretariats. This aligns with the Ministry’s direction to enhance operational efficiency and leverage technological solutions to reinforce compliance and field governance. The Ministry stressed that the “Certified Monitor” represents one of the key tracks of municipal digital transformation, aimed at enhancing community participation and promoting a culture of positive oversight. It confirmed its commitment to expanding the initiative to cover new areas within the municipal system, thereby contributing to building more organized, beautiful, and sustainable cities, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to improve quality of life and raise the efficiency of municipal services across all regions. It is noteworthy that the Council of Ministers, in its session held on November 4, 2025, approved the granting of financial incentives to individuals who contribute to uncovering violations of the municipal penalties regulations, in accordance with a set of governing rules and standards. This decision strengthens municipal performance and reinforces the principle of community partnership in monitoring and improving service quality.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has approved municipal regulations for transport service centers, as part of its efforts to develop the business environment, improve the quality of services provided in the sector, and promote investment in activities related to transport and logistics. These measures aim to improve the urban landscape and raise levels of organization and compliance. The Ministry explained that the regulations include a comprehensive classification of transport service centers, covering freight transport centers, bus transport centers, truck, bus, and taxi accommodation centers, vehicles attached to commercial activities, light transport centers, as well as centers for assessing vehicle damage of various types. The regulations set precise spatial requirements, stipulating a minimum area of 600 square meters for bus accommodation centers, 900 square meters for truck accommodation or rental centers, and 1,000 square meters for taxi or light transport accommodation centers. Vehicle damage assessment centers are required to range between 600 square meters for Category II and 1,500 square meters for Category I. The Ministry emphasized the need to provide sufficient parking spaces, safe entrances and exits, and a comprehensive traffic study of the site and surrounding roads, while adhering to setbacks, height restrictions, and landscaping requirements in line with approved building codes. It further noted that the technical and architectural requirements mandate urban façades consistent with the urban code, the use of materials that meet standard specifications for flooring and ceilings, installation of modern lighting systems and surveillance cameras, as well as the provision of rest areas for drivers, prayer rooms, restrooms, and storage facilities equipped for equipment storage. Operational requirements include adherence to electronic payment methods, maintaining cleanliness and waste management, installing fire protection systems in accordance with the Saudi Building Code (SBC-801), and prohibiting the use of sidewalks and public facilities. Additionally, centers must comply with regulations governing supplementary and compatible activities, which may not exceed 50% of the total licensed area. The Ministry affirmed that the adoption of these regulations is part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of transport service centers, organize their work environment, and strengthen compliance and commitment. These measures align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to improve quality of life, develop cities, and enhance infrastructure efficiency in support of the transport and logistics sector.