Ministry of Municipalities and Housing: Qualitative regulatory and enabling changes in the street vendors file during 2025

The initiative to support, develop and empower street vendors at the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing during 2025 achieved qualitative transformations in the management and organization of the activity, which contributed to raising the level of compliance and transforming temporary initiatives into sustainable operating models that enhance the economic and urban value of cities, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The year witnessed the development of an integrated system for the value chain of street vendors, which included regulatory, supervisory and enabling aspects, in addition to the adoption of new regulatory requirements that contributed to facilitating the beneficiary’s journey and integrating the activity within the official regulatory frameworks, which enhances governance and raises the efficiency of municipal work.
The ministry also implemented organized municipal incubator models in a number of cities as a pilot phase, aimed at providing modern operating environments that support economic sustainability and improve the urban landscape, in addition to building development partnerships with governmental, non-profit and investment entities, to expand the scope of impact and achieve institutional integration that serves the sector in the long term.
As part of strengthening the institutional approach to the file, the initiative worked on building an integrated national model for developing street vendors based on scientific foundations and in partnership with academic bodies and research centers, in order to ensure the sustainability of the development and its alignment with the needs of cities and society, and to transform the activity into an organized economic opportunity that can be expanded at the level of the Kingdom.
The efforts contributed to achieving a comprehensive national impact, including organizing modern databases to support governance, developing attractive urban operating sites, raising income efficiency for vendors through sustainable operating models, in addition to empowering the most vulnerable groups and strengthening multi-sectoral institutional partnerships.
Her Royal Highness Princess Najoud bint Hathloul bin Abdulaziz, the general supervisor of the file of supporting, developing and empowering street vendors, confirmed that what was achieved during the year 2025 reflects a strategic shift in dealing with the sector, based on sustainable organization, economic empowerment and achieving a long-term urban and social impact.
She added that the next phase will focus on expanding successful models, enhancing integration with secretariats and relevant authorities, and developing sustainable projects that ensure the sustainability of the developmental impact, contributing to improving the quality of life and achieving the objectives of the municipalities and housing system.
These efforts are an extension of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing’s strategy to regulate informal economic activities and transform them into organized and sustainable sectors, through the development of legislative frameworks, the promotion of digital transformation in licensing and registration procedures, and the creation of supportive urban environments for small businesses, which contributes to raising the quality of life, improving the urban landscape, and achieving urban development goals.