The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing adopts the term "mobile trader" within updated requirements that enhance the urban landscape.

Monday 08 June 2026
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The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has adopted the term “mobile trader” as an alternative to “street vendors,” as part of a set of updated requirements aimed at regulating the activity, empowering its practitioners, and improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities.

The ministry explained that this update comes within the framework of its efforts to develop the regulatory environment for self-employment, by raising the level of compliance, reducing arbitrary practices, and providing an organized environment that supports micro-investment, which will positively impact the quality of life.

The ministry stated that the new requirements were issued after a comprehensive comparative analysis, which showed a clear shift from the previous regulatory framework to a more integrated model, which included developing definitions, expanding the scope of activities, linking licenses to the merchant himself rather than the location, in addition to strengthening operational and technical requirements, including safety, hygiene, electronic payment, and improving the beneficiaries' experience.

She emphasized that the development of the requirements and the adoption of the new name came as a result of integrated work led by a specialized team, based on a comprehensive analysis and comparative study of the previous and proposed requirements, and benefiting from the views of the secretariats, municipalities and related authorities, which contributed to building a more accurate and flexible regulatory framework that addresses existing challenges, keeps pace with market needs and raises the efficiency of regulating the activity in a way that enhances its economic, regulatory and urban impact .

For her part, Her Royal Highness Princess Najoud bint Hathloul Al Saud, the general supervisor of the “Mobile Trader” support, development and empowerment team, explained that adopting the new name reflects a shift in the view of this activity from a traditional concept previously associated with randomness, to an organized economic activity that carries a professional and investment dimension, and contributes to empowering individuals and enhancing their participation in the urban economy. She added that this approach gives the activity a more professional identity, enhances the community’s confidence in it, and keeps pace with the objectives of improving the urban landscape and raising the quality of services in cities.

Adopting the term “mobile trader” is a strategic step that reflects a qualitative shift in the organization of this sector, from a limited traditional activity to an active element in the local economy, contributing to supporting entrepreneurs, revitalizing urban spaces, and achieving a balance between economic opportunities and regulatory discipline.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia