Saudi establishments with fewer than 250 targeted workers must provide licensed group housing for them from February 1, 2027, when the final phase of the requirement takes effect, the National Program for Developing Group Housing for Individuals said on Thursday, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The program said the period until then is a corrective grace period for employers to bring their worker accommodation into line with the rules.
The program is chaired by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and includes several other ministries and government bodies.
Two ways to comply
Employers can obtain a group housing license for a building they own through the approved licensing platforms. The building must first meet the required health, technical and safety standards.
Alternatively, employers can contract with group housing units that are already licensed. That route lets them house workers without running their own residential facilities.
The program urged employers to complete licensing or sign contracts with licensed providers during the grace period. It said those that fail to comply could face statutory measures under the approved regulations and guidelines.
Earlier phases
The program had previously called on establishments with 20 or more workers to obtain group housing licenses through the Balady platform.
At the time, it said establishments without a license could be barred from some government services, such as expanding visa quotas and transferring workers through the Qiwa platform.
The program said the rules aim to curb unauthorized use of residential buildings and improve living conditions and the urban landscape in Saudi cities.
