New private school requirements: City classification and building standards
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia announced the issuance of a comprehensive and updated set of regulatory requirements for private educational buildings, a step aimed at restructuring the private education sector both architecturally and organizationally. This move aims to ensure that educational facilities comply with the Saudi Building Code and achieve the highest standards of safety and quality, thus contributing to providing a stimulating and safe educational environment for students and staff.
City classification: Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam are in “Category A”
The new regulations adopted a precise geographical classification mechanism for Saudi cities, dividing them into three main categories to adjust planning standards in accordance with population density and the urban nature of each city:
- Category (A): It included major cities with significant population and economic weight, namely the capital Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and the metropolitan area of Dammam.
- Category (B): It was allocated to other million-person cities in the Kingdom.
- Category (C): This category included cities and governorates with a population density of less than one hundred thousand people.
The context of development and keeping pace with Vision 2030
These new requirements come within the context of the comprehensive development drive the Kingdom is witnessing under Vision 2030, specifically within the objectives of the Quality of Life Program and Human Capability Development. Upgrading educational buildings is not limited to the engineering aspect alone; its direct impact extends to improving educational outcomes by providing spaces and architectural features that support extracurricular activities and interactive learning, instead of the traditional rented buildings that previously posed a challenge.
Investment flexibility to support the early childhood sector
The Ministry has introduced significant incentives for investors in the early childhood sector, allowing the establishment of nurseries and kindergartens within residential neighborhoods in independent buildings, without requiring the conversion of building permits from residential to commercial. This step is expected to help bridge the gap between supply and demand in the kindergarten sector and facilitate families' access to these services within their neighborhoods, thus supporting women's participation in the workforce and reducing traffic congestion caused by long commutes.
Safety standards and geographical location
The regulations set strict controls to ensure student safety and smooth traffic flow around schools, and among the most prominent of these requirements are:
- Location and streets: Schools are required to be located on two streets, one of which must be at least 25 meters wide, while independent nurseries are limited to one street with a width of 15 meters.
- Safe distances: Kindergartens and nurseries must be located less than 50 meters from petrol stations and gas shops, and 250 meters away from busy commercial intersections.
- Student density: The minimum floor space per student is set at 4 square meters in kindergartens and 5 square meters in educational complexes to prevent overcrowding.
Technical and environmental requirements
The ministry emphasized health and environmental aspects, categorically banning the use of asbestos in any part of educational buildings and requiring facilities to comply with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) specifications for electrical and mechanical installations. It also mandated the installation of advanced security cameras to ensure facility safety and permitted the integration of nurseries within government buildings to serve employees, thus enhancing the institutional work environment in the public sector.
