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The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia has issued new municipal requirements for private schools and learning facilities, aimed at enhancing environmental quality while regulating safety standards and urban planning across the education sector.
The updated requirements cover nurseries, kindergartens, schools, and educational complexes, and apply to private educational buildings established on land designated for educational purposes. They also extend to facilities built on government land leased to the private sector, as well as buildings constructed on land allocated for commercial use, a Saudi Press Agency report said.
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According to the ministry, the guidelines are designed to ensure optimal land use while providing a safe, well-integrated learning environment. The requirements follow specific controls and standards intended to align educational development with broader urban planning objectives.
Classification of educational facilities
The ministry clarified that private educational buildings include all facilities dedicated to teaching students across general education, international education, and community education stages. The regulations allow for more than one educational stage to be accommodated within the same facility, provided this is in line with the approved classification.
The requirements address both site conditions and architectural planning standards. Educational buildings must be located on two streets, one of which must be at least 25 metres wide. The number of floors must not exceed limits specified in the approved building code, and mandatory setbacks must be observed.
Nurseries are granted additional flexibility, as they may be located on a single street with a minimum width of 15 metres if housed in a standalone building. The regulations also permit the construction of internal residential facilities for students within licensed schools, provided these facilities are located in a building separate from the main educational structure.
The requirements for private educational buildings are available here.
