Water service disconnection ban in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan and holidays
The Saudi Water Authority announced significant updates to its new Water and Wastewater Services Provision Guide, which will take effect on April 5, 2026. Among the most prominent updates is a ban on disconnecting water service to consumers during specific periods, including the holy month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as well as Saudi National Day and Founder's Day. The Authority also confirmed a complete ban on service interruptions in the cities of Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season (from the 1st to the 20th of Dhul-Hijjah) for all categories of customers, as well as in cases where outstanding billing complaints have not yet been resolved.
Historical development of water sector regulation in the Kingdom
This step comes as an extension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to restructure and develop the water sector, which has undergone radical institutional transformations since the era of the former Ministry of Water and Electricity, culminating in the establishment of the Saudi Water Authority. Historically, water challenges in a desert environment necessitated strict resource management, but with the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the strategic focus has shifted towards enhancing the quality of life and improving the user experience. This development reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring access to water as a fundamental right, especially during times of high consumption or when water holds spiritual and national significance, highlighting the humanitarian dimension of modern government legislation.
Strategic dimensions of implementing a ban on water service disconnection
The decision to prohibit water service disconnections carries significant strategic implications both locally and regionally. Locally, this regulation enhances the stability of Saudi families and residents, protects the rights of beneficiaries, and ensures the continuity of service during peak seasons when water demand is at its highest. Regionally and internationally, the Kingdom's provision of a legislative model that considers humanitarian and religious aspects, particularly during the Hajj season when millions of Muslims are received, reflects its leadership in managing public utilities with high efficiency and sets a new standard for service transparency and consumer protection in a vital sector like water.
Service suspension regulations and reinstatement procedures
The new guidelines clearly define conditions to protect the rights of both parties. The service provider has the right to initiate water disconnection procedures if the outstanding balance exceeds 1,000 riyals, or if three consecutive bills remain unpaid. However, the customer must be notified in advance and given a 15-day grace period to pay from the due date. This period is followed by a final notice before disconnection, issued no more than five working days prior to the actual disconnection. For entities of a sensitive nature, an additional grace period of up to 30 days is granted before the actual disconnection. Upon payment, the service provider is obligated to restore water service to the subscriber within 24 hours to ensure that customers are not negatively impacted by prolonged outages and that service is restored in accordance with the approved regulatory frameworks.
Subscriber rights and compensation for service interruption
The guide stipulates that subscribers are entitled to request a water tanker at a reduced rate of 4 riyals per cubic meter if the regular service is delayed or interrupted for more than 72 hours due to reasons beyond their control. The tanker must be provided within 12 hours of the request, and deliveries at this rate will continue every 15 days until the regular service is fully restored. The guide also specifies a 10-business-day period for reviewing new connection requests, with on-site implementation to be completed within a maximum of 25 business days after payment of fees, thus ensuring a clear timeline for service provision to new subscribers.
Delivery and meter transportation costs
The guide revealed the fees for relocating water meters up to 2 meters, amounting to 2,500 riyals for smaller diameters and 3,500 riyals for larger diameters, with an additional 1,000 riyals charged for each extra building unit when connecting water and sewage services. For the non-residential sector, connection fees start at 3,000 riyals for water and 5,000 riyals for sewage, with variable charges added for areas exceeding 3,000 square meters and actual implementation costs. These updated pricing structures aim to regulate urban expansion and ensure coverage of infrastructure costs while maintaining quality standards and timely completion in both residential and commercial projects.
