Saudi Arabia has introduced updated regulations governing expatriate worker housing, establishing mandatory health, safety, and capacity standards. According to reports from the Saudi Gazette on September 3, 2026, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has issued 1,360 collective housing licences, covering approximately one million foreign workers. Companies with 20 or more employees are now required to operate under a licensed collective housing facility or secure beds through a licensed provider. The detailed technical specifications, published by the Arabic real-estate outlet Amlak on September 1, 2026, grant existing licensed camps a one-year window to achieve compliance.
- New rules cover health, safety, and capacity standards for worker housing.
- Companies with 20 or more workers need licensed facilities.
- Existing camps have one year to comply.
New occupancy and spatial requirements dictate that each resident must be provided with a
minimum of 4 square metres of floor space, with a
maximum limit of 10 residents per bedroom. The use of roof terraces, corridors, and basements for sleeping is prohibited, and bedrooms must remain free of cooking stoves and washing machines. Sanitary requirements mandate at least one bathroom, comprising a toilet, washbasin, and shower, for every 8 residents, alongside a separate laundry facility or an outsourced service. Additionally, a central kitchen or a catering contract is mandatory, with dining or rest areas requiring at least 0.7 square metres per resident.
Health and safety protocols are significantly expanded. Every facility must include an isolation room for infectious cases. Camps housing over 1,000 residents must provide a first-aid room staffed by a licensed nurse, while those exceeding 5,000 residents require a full clinic with a licensed doctor and nurse. Each camp must appoint a full-time Saudi supervisor trained in emergency procedures. Security measures include
mandatory CCTV, approved civil defence plans, and
fire extinguishers placed no more than 23 metres apart, with exit signs capable of operating for 90 minutes during power failures. Gender-segregated entries and facilities are also required.
Site development standards specify that standalone camps must be located at least 300 metres from schools and hospitals if within urban boundaries, with access roads measuring at least 20 metres in width. Parking mandates include one car space per 40 residents and designated bus parking for half of the total residents, alongside provisions for disabled parking near main entrances. Environmental and maintenance rules require drinking-water tanks to be disinfected every six months, with at least 5 days of storage capacity, and windows must allow for daylight covering 8% of the floor area. Portable cabins are permitted for the duration of a project or for one year, subject to renewal, provided they meet height, flooring, and material standards. Housing is divided into three official categories: residential buildings up to 23 metres in height, walled compounds with security gates, and project-based portable cabins. Companies failing to obtain a Balady licence or maintain a contract with a licensed provider face
potential disruption to Qiwa services, including the processing of new visas and worker transfers.
