Municipal licensing statistics 2025: 574,000 licenses issued in Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a qualitative leap in digital services, revealing the issuance of more than 574,000 various municipal licenses during the year 2025. These figures reflect the scale of urban and commercial activity witnessed by the Kingdom's cities, within the approved municipal licensing system that aims to regulate urban activities and raise the efficiency of procedures.
Digital transformation and keeping pace with Vision 2030
This achievement comes as part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to automate municipal services, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to improve the business environment and streamline the journey for investors and beneficiaries. The "Baladi" platform and its electronic integration with relevant entities have contributed to reducing bureaucracy, transforming the licensing process from a complex paper-based procedure that took weeks to an immediate, accurate, and fast digital process.
Details of commercial and construction licenses
In detailing the announced figures, the ministry explained that the licenses issued covered a wide range of vital sectors, with over 202,000 commercial licenses issued, indicating the growth of economic activity and the attractiveness of the Saudi market for entrepreneurs. Additionally, 78,000 building permits and 66,000 occupancy certificates were issued, reflecting the continued growth in the real estate and construction sector to meet the increasing demand for residential and commercial units.
The services were not limited to the new version, but included the regulatory aspects of existing buildings, as 8,400 restoration licenses, 4,700 demolition licenses, and 4,700 land fencing licenses were issued, within the regulatory procedures aimed at improving the urban landscape and eliminating visual distortion in residential neighborhoods.
Operational efficiency and speed of completion
One of the most prominent indicators revealed by the Ministry is the average time for issuing municipal licenses, which reached approximately 24 hours by 2025. This figure is a strong indicator of the efficiency of the Ministry's digital infrastructure and directly contributes to raising the Kingdom's ranking in international ease of doing business indices. The system also included the issuance of approximately 199,000 excavation permits for infrastructure development and 7,000 permits for modifying building components, granting developers and property owners significant flexibility in managing their projects.
Urban compliance and quality of life
In its efforts to improve quality of life, the Ministry confirmed achieving 100% compliance with the first phase target for the Building Compliance Certificate. This certificate is a fundamental pillar for ensuring buildings are free from violations that detract from the overall appearance, thus enhancing the aesthetics of Saudi cities and achieving a sustainable and safe urban environment for both residents and visitors.
