The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has established new regulations for the practice of «street vendor» by designating locations where such activities are prohibited. This move aims to strike a balance between supporting mobile commercial activities and ensuring the safety of road users and pedestrians, while also ensuring that traffic flow and the use of public facilities are not disrupted.
The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, Mohammed Al-Rasasma, explained that the regulations include a ban on «mobile vendor» activities in nine types of locations, including road intersections and median strips, as well as parking spaces for people with disabilities.
The ban also covers the entrances and exits of major roads, locations adjacent to traffic lights, public parking areas, as well as bike lanes and roads with heavy traffic, as well as areas designated for the police, traffic authorities, civil defense, and emergency medical services.
New Regulations for «Mobile Vendors»
Al-Rasasma emphasized that designating specific locations for this activity is part of regulating the work of «mobile vendors» to ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians and to prevent obstruction of traffic or disruption to the primary functions of public sites and facilities. He noted that the updated requirements are not limited to designating locations but also regulate the operational and technical aspects of the activity, including requirements for the places where the activity is conducted, sales outlets, and mobile carts.
The regulations aim to provide a clearer framework for vendors, while taking into account safety requirements and compliance with approved municipal regulations.
Regulating the Activity and Curbing Unregulated Practices
The new requirements are part of the Ministry’s initiative to regulate the «mobile vendor» activity and to provide a regulated environment for self-employment, in parallel with the regulation of commercial activities and the curbing of unregulated practices.
The regulations also aim to raise the level of compliance with municipal requirements and improve the urban environment and cityscapes in Saudi cities.
Municipal secretariats and municipalities are responsible for monitoring compliance with these requirements at business sites as part of municipal oversight, thereby ensuring that the regulations are enforced on the ground.
Report Violations via «940» and «Baladi»
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has called on the public to report municipal violations related to the activities of «mobile vendors» via the unified number «940» or through the «Baladi» app, with the aim of expediting the handling of reports and maintaining the safety of roads and public facilities.
The Ministry had previously adopted the term «mobile vendor» in place of «street vendors,» as part of a set of updated requirements aimed at regulating the activity and empowering those who practice it, while also contributing to the improvement of the urban landscape within Saudi cities.
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