Ministry of Municipalities updates terms of non-food retail outlets

Ministry of Municipalities and Housing headquarters

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has updated the requirements as well as the regulations governing the non-food retail outlets.

The update covers all wholesale and retail outlets selling non-food products, such as clothing, perfumes, footwear, stationery, and other related activities, the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The new update entails the regulatory requirements of licensing, location, site and area, and other supplementary activities, in addition to technical and operational requirements.

One of the most notable changes is that the kind of permitted activities should be complying with the type of outlet. Wholesale or retail sales may now be conducted at standalone locations or within existing buildings, provided that the outlet's area is no less than 24 square meters. Conversely, kiosks are only allowed to be used for retail sales and, when placed in markets or shopping malls, must be at least two square meters in size. Additionally, wholesale sales are allowed within offices, provided that office-specific regulations are followed.

The ministry urged investors and those looking to run non-food retail activities to comply with the requirements outlined on the "Balady" platform.

This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to address visual pollution, enhance compliance with municipal requirements, and organize the commercial business environment.

To view detailed requirements of non-food retail outlets.