Saudi Arabia introduces new rules for shared housing, capping capacity and boosting safety
Capacity limits, safety upgrades, and strict standards introduced for worker facilities
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has unveiled sweeping health, safety, and technical regulations for group housing facilities across the Kingdom, setting strict limits on capacity and upgrading infrastructure requirements.
The framework divides group housing into three categories: Residential buildings, large residential complexes and mobile cabins.
Residential buildings may house up to 500 people, with a Saudi national appointed to oversee operations. Rooms must offer at least four square metres per resident and accommodate no more than 10 occupants. Shared amenities include kitchens, bathrooms, rest areas, laundry rooms, climate control, potable water, cleaning services, and pest management.
Residential complexes can accommodate as many as 10,000 residents under the same occupancy standards but must also provide prayer rooms, emergency rooms for every 1,000 residents, and on-site medical clinics for every 5,000.
Mobile cabins, designed for temporary housing near major projects, must meet similar occupancy rules and feature central kitchens, health isolation rooms, prayer areas, laundry facilities, clinics, and climate systems.
All facilities must secure prior approval from relevant authorities, including building permits and safety and public health plans.
Safety features such as fire detection systems, first-aid kits, emergency routes, and accessibility measures for residents with disabilities are mandatory.
Urban planning rules cap built-up areas at 40% of the plot and require integrated services such as fuel stations, EV charging points, maintenance workshops, shaded parking, recreation areas, and modern lighting.
Parking must provide one space per 100 residents, bus parking for half the population, and spots for people with disabilities.
Design standards mandate safe stair railings, compliant window heights, roof barriers, proper rainwater drainage, and waste disposal systems. Restrictions include banning boundary walls for residential buildings along commercial streets, placing barriers above fences, and installing air-conditioning units or satellite dishes on balconies.
For mobile cabins, the ministry requires durable steel or aluminium frames, insulated walls, anti-slip flooring, pitched roofs, and engineering suited for frequent relocation and heavy use.
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