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.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Saudi Water Authority continue their joint efforts to address water overflow and leakage incidents and reduce road flooding, as part of an integrated oversight framework aimed at improving the urban landscape and enhancing field response efficiency in the Kingdom’s cities. The two entities clarified that Article 57 of the Water Law assigns the Saudi Water Authority responsibility for detecting water overflow and leakage incidents as well as breaks in water and sewage networks. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, on the other hand, is responsible for monitoring cases of road flooding and water pooling that directly affect the urban environment and public safety, ensuring clarity of roles and expediting remediation procedures. They affirmed that this integration contributes to reducing environmental and urban damage and addressing visual distortions caused by water flowing beyond property boundaries, from internal networks and water tankers, and from breaks in water or sewage networks—all of which are among the primary causes of water pooling and road flooding. The Ministry and the Authority noted that water flowing beyond property boundaries is classified as a form of visual distortion and a municipal violation requiring immediate remediation. They indicated that the approved regulations stipulate a fine of up to SAR 3,000 when such overflow causes road flooding or water pooling, along with an obligation for the offender to promptly remove the violation and address its causes. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Saudi Water Authority highlighted the implementation of continuous field inspection rounds to detect such cases and address them in accordance with regulations, thereby enhancing compliance and raising the level of public safety and urban environment quality. The Ministry and the Authority called on community members to engage with the unified reporting channels through the “Baladi+” application via the “Snap and Send” service, as well as through the Saudi Water Authority’s website. They emphasized that early reporting contributes to faster remediation and prevents the escalation of damages, while strengthening the community partnership in maintaining an organized and attractive urban environment. These efforts are part of the initiatives of the “Ajmal Mudun” Committee, which aims to regulate the urban environment and enhance integration among the relevant authorities in enforcing regulations, in support of urban sustainability and the improvement of quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing continued to advance its efforts in developing the urban landscape and public spaces. The municipal sector’s programs contributed to the establishment of 294 new parks and the execution of 252 urban interventions across the Kingdom’s cities, as part of a strategic track aimed at raising quality of life, enhancing the human dimension of cities, and achieving urban sustainability in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry noted that these efforts also included the rehabilitation of 132 existing parks, contributing to the improvement of the urban environment, increasing per capita green space, raising the efficiency of public facilities, and enhancing the attractiveness of cities for residents and visitors. In the area of urban planning, three local plans and one regional plan were approved, supporting the guidance of urban growth within clear regulatory frameworks, promoting optimal land use, and enhancing the efficiency of long-term urban planning for cities. On the projects and public health front, over 100 unauthorized waste dumpsites were closed, contributing to the improvement of the urban landscape and the reduction of negative environmental impacts. Additionally, 17 afforestation offices were established at the Ministry headquarters and regional municipalities to support the goals of increasing vegetation cover and promoting urban sustainability. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing affirmed that these achievements are an extension of its strategic direction toward building more efficient and sustainable cities, achieving integration between urban development and municipal services, enhancing quality of life, and supporting the path of comprehensive urban transformation, in line with the aspirations of national development and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The National Program for the Development of Collective Housing for Individuals has affirmed the obligation of establishments housing 20 or more workers to rectify the status of their worker accommodation through one of two approved regulatory tracks. This comes as part of ongoing efforts to regulate worker housing and raise the quality of the residential environment, contributing to the enhancement of quality of life and the improvement of the urban landscape in the Kingdom’s cities. The Program explained that the first track involves obtaining a collective housing license for the establishment’s building through the “Baladi” platform, after meeting the approved health, technical, and municipal requirements. The second track offers the option of contracting with pre-licensed collective housing units, ensuring the provision of regulated worker accommodation in approved buildings without the need for the establishment to manage its own residential facilities. The Program noted that compliance with one of the two tracks contributes to organizing the distribution of worker housing within urban areas, reducing unauthorized use of residential properties, and raising the level of compliance with municipal and health requirements—all of which positively impact the safety of the residential environment and quality of life in cities. The Program called on establishments to proactively rectify the status of their worker accommodation through the available regulatory tracks, noting that failure to do so in accordance with the approved options may result in the application of regulatory measures outlined in the guidance manual, including the recording of violations and the suspension of certain government services linked to the establishment. The Program indicated that these measures are part of a broader framework of efforts aimed at developing a more organized model for worker housing in the Kingdom, supporting the efficiency of the housing market, advancing the level of urban planning, and enhancing the sustainability of cities in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing chairs The National Program for the Development of Collective Housing for Individuals, which includes in its membership the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, and the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya).
The street vendors support and empowerment initiative at the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing achieved transformative milestones during 2025 in the management and regulation of the sector. These advances contributed to raising compliance levels and transitioning temporary initiatives into sustainable operating models that enhance the economic and urban value of cities, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The year saw the development of a comprehensive value chain system for street vendors, encompassing regulatory, oversight, and empowerment dimensions. New regulatory requirements were also adopted, streamlining the beneficiary journey and integrating the activity within official regulatory frameworks to strengthen governance and raise the efficiency of municipal operations. The Ministry also implemented organized municipal incubator models in several cities as a pilot phase, aimed at providing modern operating environments that support economic sustainability and improve the urban landscape. Additionally, development partnerships were established with government, non-profit, and investment entities to expand the scope of impact and achieve institutional integration that serves the sector in the long term. In the context of strengthening the institutional approach to the sector, the initiative worked on building a comprehensive national model for developing street vendors based on scientific foundations and in partnership with academic institutions and research centers. This ensures the sustainability of development efforts and their alignment with the needs of cities and communities, transforming the activity into an organized economic opportunity that is scalable across the Kingdom. These efforts resulted in a comprehensive national impact, including the development of modern databases to support governance, the creation of attractive urban operating sites, the enhancement of vendor income through sustainable operating models, the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups, and the strengthening of multi-sector institutional partnerships. Her Royal Highness Princess Noujoud bint Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, General Supervisor of the street vendors support and empowerment portfolio, affirmed that the achievements of 2025 reflect a strategic shift in the approach to the sector, built on sustainable regulation, economic empowerment, and the delivery of long-term urban and social impact. Her Royal Highness added that the next phase will focus on expanding successful models, enhancing integration with municipalities and relevant authorities, and developing permanent projects that ensure the sustainability of the developmental impact, contributing to the improvement of quality of life and the achievement of the objectives of the municipalities and housing ecosystem. These efforts are an extension of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing’s strategy to regulate informal economic activities and transform them into organized and sustainable sectors by developing legislative frameworks, enhancing digital transformation in licensing and registration procedures, and preparing supportive urban environments for small-scale activities. This contributes to raising quality of life, improving the urban landscape, and achieving the objectives of urban development.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing is participating in the 23rd International Conference on Asset, Facility, and Maintenance Management, held in Riyadh from January 12 to 14, 2026. The Ministry’s participation underscores its role in advancing asset management systems and raising the efficiency of municipal facilities and services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives for sustainability and quality of life. The Ministry’s participation aims to showcase its experience in adopting modern asset and facility management practices, enhancing operational and maintenance efficiency, and reducing resource waste—contributing to the financial and operational sustainability of cities and ensuring the continuity of high-quality municipal services across the Kingdom. This participation reflects the Ministry’s direction toward strengthening strategic partnerships with local and international specialized entities, leveraging global expertise, and exchanging knowledge and best practices in asset, facility, and maintenance management, given the conference’s standing as a scientific platform that brings together specialists, decision-makers, and experts in the field. The Ministry is contributing to the conference’s scientific program through participation in discussion panels and specialized workshops, presenting its experiences in developing asset, facility, and maintenance management systems, and highlighting the developmental initiatives it is implementing to raise the efficiency and operational sustainability of municipal assets. The Ministry is also participating with a dedicated pavilion at the accompanying exhibition, showcasing its most prominent projects, initiatives, and regulatory and technological solutions applied in asset and facility management. This reflects the scale of development taking place in Saudi cities and enhances the efficiency of municipal services and quality of life for residents. The Ministry affirmed that its participation in the conference is an extension of its efforts to build an integrated asset and facility management system based on the principles of efficiency and sustainability, supporting municipal transformation, and building cities that are more resilient and capable of meeting present needs while ensuring sustainability for future generations.
His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, honored the municipalities that won the Tamayouz Excellence Award for 2025 during the annual ceremony organized by the Ministry, as part of its efforts to promote a culture of institutional excellence, raise the efficiency of municipal operations, and improve the quality of services provided to residents in the Kingdom’s cities. Ha’il Region Municipality achieved first place in the Tamayouz Excellence Award for 2025, with the award received by the Mayor of Ha’il Region, Eng. Sultan bin Hamad Al-Zaydi, in recognition of the municipality’s distinction in municipal performance indicators, its implementation of best operational practices, and its advancement of municipal services in line with the expectations of residents and visitors. Qassim Region Municipality placed second, with the award received by the Mayor of Qassim Region, Eng. Muhammad bin Mubarak Al-Majali, in recognition of the municipality’s distinguished institutional performance. The municipality also received the Excellence in Community Engagement Award, in recognition of its effective initiatives that contributed to strengthening community participation and raising the level of public engagement in municipal operations. The Eastern Province Municipality earned third place in the Tamayouz Excellence Award for 2025, in addition to winning several specialized excellence tracks, including the Excellence in Visual Distortion Remediation Award, the Excellence in Bahjah Projects Award, and the Excellence in Emergency and Crisis Management Award. The awards were received by His Excellency the Mayor of the Eastern Province, Eng. Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Jubeir, in recognition of the municipality’s efforts in strengthening operational readiness, improving the urban landscape, and enhancing the beneficiary experience. Al-Baha Region Municipality won the Excellence in Street Vendor Support and Empowerment Award, in recognition of its efforts in regulating this activity and supporting authorized mobile vendors, contributing to sustainable social and economic impact. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing explained that the Tamayouz Excellence Award is one of the initiatives aimed at fostering positive competition among municipalities, raising the efficiency of the municipal sector, and encouraging the adoption of best practices in city management, thereby contributing to the improvement of urban quality of life and the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. The Ministry noted that the award is based on a comprehensive evaluation framework encompassing several key areas and precise criteria, including municipal service efficiency, infrastructure quality, oversight and compliance, financial sustainability, community engagement, digital transformation, emergency and crisis management, and visual distortion remediation. This framework ensures the measurement of institutional performance maturity and incentivizes continuous improvement. The Ministry affirmed that the award contributes to embedding a culture of institutional excellence in the municipal sector, promoting innovation, enhancing the beneficiary experience, and driving municipalities toward more efficient and sustainable operational models that positively impact the quality of services and the urban environment across the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing revealed that municipalities and affiliated local authorities carried out more than 7.7 million inspection rounds in recent months across cities, neighborhoods, commercial establishments, and construction sites as part of ongoing efforts to improve the urban landscape and enhance quality of life in cities across the Kingdom. The Ministry explained that inspection activities in November alone resulted in detecting and addressing 110,071 violations across various municipal sectors. It noted that monitoring efforts rely on an advanced technological ecosystem, including the AI powered “Balady Lens” system and geospatial analytics to identify visual distortions, in addition to surveillance cameras within food and health establishments and the use of approved checklists for monitoring commercial, food, and construction activities. The Ministry emphasized that municipal oversight is a core component of its regulatory and operational responsibilities, given its direct connection to pedestrian safety, neighborhood cleanliness, food safety, and the quality of daily services relied upon by residents. These efforts, it added, have contributed to higher compliance rates in commercial and food sectors, enhanced food safety, improved the urban landscape, and strengthened the organization of the built environment across the Kingdom. The Ministry stated that it will continue in the coming period to expand technology enabled monitoring, improve response efficiency to reports, and increase the presence of field teams in neighborhoods, thereby enhancing municipal service quality and maintaining a safe and balanced urban environment. The Ministry also urged community members and establishments to support monitoring efforts by reporting violations through approved channels, stressing that adherence to regulations is a shared responsibility and that community partnership is a key pillar in improving the urban landscape and achieving cleaner, safer, and higher quality cities across the Kingdom
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has updated the municipal regulations governing private slaughterhouses as part of its ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency, enhance service quality, and strengthen municipal compliance. The update was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture to support public health and ensure a safe and well organized urban environment. The Ministry explained that the new updates aim to develop the business environment within the private slaughterhouse sector, empower investors, and increase compliance with municipal requirements, contributing to reducing violations and improving the urban landscape. It clarified that the scope of the updated requirements covers all locations operating private slaughterhouse activities. Key prerequisites for obtaining licenses include adherence to the municipal licensing procedures and operational standards, securing Civil Defense approval prior to license issuance, and providing a valid commercial registration that lists the activities to be licensed. The Ministry emphasized that this update is part of an integrated framework through which it seeks to develop municipal services and enhance operational efficiency across the Kingdom’s regions. These efforts support the sustainability of the municipal sector and contribute to improving quality of life and creating a more organized and high quality urban environment. The updated requirements for private slaughterhouses can be accessed through the following link: https://momah.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2025-10/alashtratat%20albldyt%20llmsalkh%20alahlyt.pdf
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing emphasized the vital role that municipal services play in shaping a more convenient lifestyle and improving the quality of life in Saudi cities. It noted that integrated infrastructure and daily operational services are fundamental elements that contribute to creating a balanced and sustainable urban environment that meets residents’ needs in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry explained that municipalities across the Kingdom manage a wide system of services that directly impact daily life, including road networks, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and rainwater drainage, in addition to sanitation services and public facilities. It highlighted that the integration of these services enhances the efficiency and sustainability of cities, improves the urban landscape, and supports the development of more attractive living environments. The Ministry stated that showcasing these efforts aims to raise awareness of the essential role played by the municipal system in supporting urban development, and to clarify that what residents experience is the result of continuous engineering and operational work based on precise planning and ongoing field monitoring to ensure the consistent delivery of high quality services. It further affirmed that Saudi cities today are managed through modern operational systems and specialized teams working in harmony to ensure infrastructure readiness and improve service efficiency. These efforts, the Ministry stressed, form a key pillar in enhancing quality of life and fostering thriving urban environments. The Ministry concluded that its efforts to improve municipal service efficiency aim to provide a higher quality and more accessible urban environment for residents by developing facilities and enhancing operations, ultimately contributing to a better lifestyle across Saudi cities.