Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH)headquarters
The 180-day corrective period granted by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) for compliance of Saudi-based grocery retailers with the recently-introduced rules began on July 14. 
This applies to existing grocery establishments, including minimarkets, supermarkets, and hypermarkets.
The new regulations aim to improve the working environment to meet the aspirations and goals of both individuals and society, while also enhancing food safety standards.
According to Argaam data, MOMAH issued a ministerial decree last month approving this suite of regulations, which came into force upon publication.
The new requirements include specific spatial requirements that such establishments must meet within their premises’ masterplans, as indicated in the following table:
Spatial Requirements
Classification
Minimum Area (m²)
Minimarket
24
Supermarket
100
Hypermarket
500
The regulations also define the activities permitted for minimarkets, supermarkets, and hypermarkets. Among the key provisions, one prohibits minimarkets from selling tobacco products, as outlined in the table below:
Permitted Activities
Activities
Minimarket
Supermarket
Hypermarket
Charging Cables, Prepaid Recharge Cards
✓
✓
✓
Unpackaged Nuts, Coffee, Spices (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Vegetables, Fruits, Dates (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Cheese, Salads, Pickles, etc. (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Butchery (Fresh – Chilled) (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Seafood (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
TobaccoProducts
x
✓
✓
Regular Bakeries (35 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Semi-Automatic Bakeries (150 m²)
x
✓**
✓**
Auto Bakeries (200 m²)
x
✓**
✓**
Electrical and Electronic Devices (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Cosmetics and Perfumes (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Mobile Phones (16 m²)
x
x
✓*
Restaurants (16 m²)
x
x
✓*
Pharmaceutical Activities (25 m²)
x
x
✓*
xActivity not permitted to add or practice
*Requires adding the activity to the license
**Requires a separate license
Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH)headquarters
The 180-day corrective period granted by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) for compliance of Saudi-based grocery retailers with the recently-introduced rules began on July 14.
This applies to existing grocery establishments, including minimarkets, supermarkets, and hypermarkets.
The new regulations aim to improve the working environment to meet the aspirations and goals of both individuals and society, while also enhancing food safety standards.
According to Argaam data, MOMAH issued a ministerial decree last month approving this suite of regulations, which came into force upon publication.
The new requirements include specific spatial requirements that such establishments must meet within their premises’ masterplans, as indicated in the following table:
Spatial Requirements
Classification
Minimum Area (m²)
Minimarket
24
Supermarket
100
Hypermarket
500
The regulations also define the activities permitted for minimarkets, supermarkets, and hypermarkets. Among the key provisions, one prohibits minimarkets from selling tobacco products, as outlined in the table below:
Permitted Activities
Activities
Minimarket
Supermarket
Hypermarket
Charging Cables, Prepaid Recharge Cards
✓
✓
✓
Unpackaged Nuts, Coffee, Spices (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Vegetables, Fruits, Dates (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Cheese, Salads, Pickles, etc. (16 m²)
x
✓
✓
Butchery (Fresh – Chilled) (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Seafood (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
TobaccoProducts
x
✓
✓
Regular Bakeries (35 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Semi-Automatic Bakeries (150 m²)
x
✓**
✓**
Auto Bakeries (200 m²)
x
✓**
✓**
Electrical and Electronic Devices (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Cosmetics and Perfumes (16 m²)
x
✓*
✓*
Mobile Phones (16 m²)
x
x
✓*
Restaurants (16 m²)
x
x
✓*
Pharmaceutical Activities (25 m²)
x
x
✓*
xActivity not permitted to add or practice
*Requires adding the activity to the license
**Requires a separate license
