New requirements for private schools: City classification and safety standards

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a comprehensive and updated set of regulatory requirements for private educational buildings, a strategic step aimed at improving the quality of the educational environment and enhancing safety and sustainability standards. This move comes in response to the demands of the current phase, which is witnessing rapid growth in the private education sector, and aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life and enhance the efficiency of services provided to citizens and residents.

A detailed geographical classification of Saudi cities

The new regulations adopted an innovative classification mechanism for Saudi cities to adjust planning standards in line with population density and urban needs, dividing cities into three main categories:

• Category (A): It includes major cities with significant population and economic weight, namely the capital Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and the metropolitan area of ​​Dammam.
• Category (B): This includes cities with a population exceeding one million and characterized by rapid urban growth.
• Category (C): It is allocated to cities and governorates with a population density of less than one hundred thousand people.

This classification allows for greater flexibility in applying the requirements in accordance with the nature of each city, making it easier for investors to understand the specific requirements of each geographical area.

Boosting investment and streamlining licensing

As part of the Ministry's efforts to stimulate investment in the early childhood education sector, the new regulations offer unprecedented facilitations for establishing nurseries and kindergartens. The regulations now permit these facilities to be located within residential neighborhoods in independent buildings without requiring the conversion of property deeds or building permits from residential to commercial use, a significant incentive for small and medium-sized investors.

The regulations also allowed for the integration of nurseries within government buildings to serve female employees, and permitted their presence on the ground floors of existing commercial and educational buildings, which contributes to supporting women's work and providing a safe environment for children near their mothers' workplaces.

Public health and safety standards

The regulations placed great emphasis on the health and safety of students, categorically prohibiting the use of asbestos, an internationally banned material, in any part of the educational building. They also mandated that facilities implement the highest technical specifications approved by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) for all electrical and mechanical equipment.

Regarding student density, the ministry has set standards to ensure that classrooms are not overcrowded, specifying a minimum space of 4 square meters per student in kindergartens and 5 square meters in educational complexes for advanced stages, to ensure a healthy and comfortable learning environment.

Urban planning and traffic flow

The regulations did not overlook the traffic challenges in major cities, setting strict conditions for school locations to ensure smooth traffic flow. Schools are required to be situated on two streets, one of which must be at least 25 meters wide, while nurseries are limited to a single street with a width of 15 meters.

It also imposed precise safety distances to protect lives and property, prohibiting the establishment of educational facilities for children at a distance of less than 50 meters from gas stations and gas outlets, and a distance of no less than 250 meters from busy commercial intersections, reflecting a strong concern for traffic and environmental safety.

Context of the vision and expected impact

These initiatives fall under the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to create the necessary environment to enhance the participation of citizens and residents in cultural and educational activities. These regulations are expected to eliminate the haphazard distribution of private schools, unify the visual identity of educational buildings to improve the urban landscape, and create promising investment opportunities for the private sector in education, while ensuring full compliance with the Saudi Building Code.