Latest news with #SaudiBuildingCode
Gulf Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Saudi's new food establishment rules: What's next for restaurants?
Image credit: Getty Images On August 10, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing adopted updated municipal requirements aimed at regulating food establishments across the kingdom. The move is part of a broader effort to create an integrated operational environment that aligns with public health and safety standards. The new regulations apply to five categories of food businesses: restaurants that prepare and serve meals on-site and for delivery, cafes serving beverages and snacks, cloud kitchens focused on online orders, and food kiosks operating in malls and markets. Read- The requirements mandate compliance with the Saudi Building Code, covering electrical systems, ventilation, air conditioning, and sanitation. They also specify safety features such as non-slip flooring, fire- and moisture-resistant ceilings, and efficient drainage systems. Employees must wear professional attire, carry identification cards, maintain personal hygiene, and avoid using facilities for residential purposes. Smoking is banned indoors except in designated areas, The ministry emphasised that these measures are designed to enhance regulatory oversight, standardise procedures, and improve the overall experience for visitors and beneficiaries. These updates are part of ongoing efforts to elevate operational standards across various sectors. Food labelling regulations to improve consumer awareness Earlier this year, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) announced new technical regulations to improve transparency in the food industry and empower consumers with detailed nutritional information. Starting July 1, 2025, all food establishments will be required to display nutritional details on menus—both physical and online—as well as on digital food ordering platforms. These regulations will include a 'saltshaker' icon next to meals high in sodium, Three key technical regulations to promote healthy dietary habits On February 27, 2025, Caffeine content disclosure: Restaurants and cafes must clearly label the caffeine content of beverages on menus, specifying milligrams per 100ml or per cup. A statement will remind consumers that the maximum recommended daily caffeine intake for adults is 400mg. To assist consumers, the SFDA launched an High salt content labeling: Menu items containing over 5 grams of salt (2,000mg sodium) must be marked with a 'Salt' icon on all menus and online ordering platforms. This measure aims to raise awareness of high-sodium foods and reduce excessive salt consumption linked to various health issues. Physical activity calorie burn labelling: Menus must indicate the estimated time required to burn the calories from each menu item through physical activity. Illustrative icons will show the type and duration of activity needed, helping consumers better understand the energy impact of their food choices. These initiatives reflect the SFDA's preventative strategy to increase life expectancy and lower the burden of diet-related diseases in the country. Coordinated approach to enhancing food safety and nutrition Together, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the SFDA's recent measures mark a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia's efforts to improve food safety, transparency, and public health. By introducing rigorous building and operational standards alongside comprehensive nutritional labeling requirements, the government is addressing multiple facets of food consumption, from hygiene and infrastructure to informed dietary choices. As Saudi Arabia continues its Vision 2030 reforms, these integrated regulations serve not only to protect consumers but also to encourage healthier lifestyles, reduce chronic disease prevalence, and elevate service standards within the food industry. Food establishments across the country will need to adapt to these new rules by mid-2025 to ensure compliance and support the nation's long-term health objectives.
Argaam
19-05-2025
- Business
- Argaam
Saudi insurance spending per capita up 16% to SAR 2,367 in 2024
Per capita spending on insurance in Saudi Arabia grew 16% to SAR 2,367 by the end of 2024, compared to SAR 2,035 a year earlier, data from the Insurance Authority (IA) showed. The per capita insurance spending is defined as the gross written premiums (GWPs) during the year divided by population. Per capita spending on insurance in Saudi Arabia grew at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 21.2% over the last five years. Health insurance accounted for 55% of total per capita spending in the sector last year, followed by general insurance with 34%, as well as protection and savings insurance with 10%. The IA report explained that the insurance penetration, which is represented by the ratio of total insurance premiums to the gross domestic product (GDP), increased to 1.87% in 2024, compared to 1.64% in 2023. Similarly, the insurance sector's contribution to the non-oil GDP also expanded to 2.59% in 2024 compared to 2.38% in 2023, and it is targeted to increase to 4.3% by 2030. Last year witnessed the issuance of several regulations, guidelines, and standardized policies aimed at keeping pace with developments in the sector and the broader economy. Notable among these were: The issuance of the Unified Health Insurance Policy for Domestic Workers, which sets the minimum mandatory health coverage for this category. The Unified Professional Liability Insurance Policy for entities inspecting compliance with the Saudi Building Code. The Unified Civil Liability Insurance Policy for crowded venues and high-risk activities. Per Capita Spending on Insurance Since 2010 (SAR) Year General Health Protection & Savings Total 2010 244 315 35 594 2011 278 342 32 652 2012 308 386 30 724 2013 383 430 28 841 2014 450 511 29 990 2015 523 602 33 1158 2016 541 587 33 1161 2017 502 585 35 1121 2018 419 595 33 1048 2019 417 657 33 1107 2020 414 645 36 1095 2021 435 717 49 1200 2022 576 933 55 1564 2023 754 1200 80 2035 2024 814 1313 239 2367 GWPs saw a 16% year-on-year (YoY) increase to SAR 76.1 billion in 2024. Health insurance GWPs stood at SAR 42.2 billion in 2024, up 9% from SAR 38.6 billion in 2023. Similarly, general insurance GWPs grew by 8% YoY to SAR 26.2 billion in 2024. Protection and savings insurance premiums saw a 200% hike YoY, accounting for 10.1% of GWPs up from 3.9% in 2023. GWPs by Insurance Segment in 2024 (SAR bln) Type 2023 2024 Change value Change (%) Healthcare 38.6 42.2 + 3.6 +9% General 24.3 26.2 + 1.9 +8% Protection & Savings 2.6 7.7 + 5.1 +200% Total 65.5 76.1 +10.7 +16% In the general insurance segment, auto insurance premiums accounted for 53%, or SAR 13.9 billion, of total. General accidents & liability insurance came second with 13%.
ME Construction
12-03-2025
- Business
- ME Construction
AESG eyes FLS growth in KSA on the back of new regulations
Consultant AESG eyes FLS growth in KSA on the back of new regulations By In preparation for the new regulations, the firm has strengthened its Fire & Life Safety division In preparation for the introduction of updated Saudi Building Code (SBC) and Saudi Fire Code (SFC) regulations in mid-2025, which are being introduced as the Kingdom deepens its focus on fire and life safety (FLS) standards, AESG has strengthened its Fire & Life Safety division. The company says that it has expanded its Saudi-based team with a number of new hires, including fire protection engineers, senior fire protection engineers, and principal fire protection engineers. This strategic expansion enhances the firm's ability to support complex projects with advanced mechanical and electrical fire protection expertise, it said in a statement. 'Saudi Arabia's rapid expansion of mega and giga projects has significantly increased the demand for specialised Fire & Life Safety expertise. These large-scale developments require meticulous and complex fire safety planning, both from a design and regulatory standpoint. The complexity of Saudi projects necessitates both robust local knowledge as well as international expertise to develop equivalencies and alternative solutions, allowing AESG to go beyond standard code compliance and deliver high-value, performance-based fire safety solutions,' said Saeed al Abbar, CEO at AESG. AESG is among the select few Fire & Life Safety firms actively operating in Saudi Arabia and is one of only two International Consultancy firms certified by Civil Defense as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative and reviewer, reaffirming the firm's deep commitment to Vision 2030, the statement highlighted. In 2024, AESG played a critical role in upgrading fire and life safety codes and systems for some of Saudi Arabia's most iconic developments, including critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities and luxury hospitality projects, the company explained. It is said to have also collaborated with developers on major new projects, ensuring state-of-the-art fire safety systems were integrated at these developments from the outset. Collectively, AESG's efforts have helped safeguard over US $7.99bn worth of built assets in Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, AESG is set to further expand its Fire & Life Safety division in Saudi Arabia in 2025, the firm said. 'We are strengthening our advisory services in policy, procedures, and governance, leveraging expertise gained from giga-projects. Additionally, we will introduce specialised solutions for industrial projects, further enhancing our service offerings in the Kingdom. Our goal is to grow our team by over 25% while continuing to elevate service quality, client experience, and governance advisory. With the upcoming Saudi Building Code (SBC-201) and Saudi Fire Code (SBC-801) changes, AESG remains committed to guiding clients through compliance with practical, high-impact Fire & Life Safety solutions—designed to be simple, effective, and achievable,' commented Abdullah Faza, Director – Fire and Life Safety, Middle East at AESG. AESG said that it is also expanding its regional footprint in other markets, the firm revealed that it recently established a dedicated Fire & Life Safety team in Cairo and is set to expand its teams in the Asia Pacific market with hires in Sydney and Singapore. The expansion includes the appointment of Samer Mehran as Senior FLS Consultant for the company's Egypt office. With over 15 years of industry experience, Mehran brings deep technical expertise and leadership to support AESG's continued growth across the Middle East.
Mid East Info
11-03-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
AESG Targets 25% Growth in Saudi Fire & Life Safety Team Ahead of New Building and Fire Codes - Middle East Business News and Information
As Saudi Arabia's construction sector continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, the Kingdom is set to reinforce fire and life safety (FLS) standards with the introduction of updated Saudi Building Code (SBC) and Saudi Fire Code (SFC) regulations in mid-2025. In preparation for these changes, AESG has strengthened its Fire & Life Safety division, expanding its Saudi-based team with a number of new hires, including fire protection engineers, senior fire protection engineers, and principal fire protection engineers. This strategic expansion enhances the firm's ability to support complex projects with advanced mechanical and electrical fire protection expertise. AESG is among the select few Fire & Life Safety firms actively operating in Saudi Arabia and is one of only two International Consultancy firms certified by Civil Defense as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative and reviewer, reaffirming the firm's deep commitment to Vision 2030. 'Saudi Arabia's rapid expansion of mega and giga projects has significantly increased the demand for specialized Fire & Life Safety expertise. These large-scale developments require meticulous and complex fire safety planning, both from a design and regulatory standpoint. The complexity of Saudi projects necessitates both robust local knowledge as well as international expertise to develop equivalencies and alternative solutions, allowing AESG to go beyond standard code compliance and deliver high-value, performance-based fire safety solutions,' said Saeed al Abbar, CEO at AESG. In 2024, AESG played a critical role in upgrading fire and life safety codes and systems for some of Saudi Arabia's most iconic developments, including critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities and luxury hospitality projects. The firm also collaborated with developers on major new projects ensuring state-of-the-art fire safety systems were integrated at these developments from the outset. Collectively, AESG's efforts have helped safeguard over SAR 30 billion worth of built assets in Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, AESG is set to further expand its Fire & Life Safety division in Saudi Arabia in 2025. 'We are strengthening our advisory services in policy, procedures, and governance, leveraging expertise gained from giga-projects. Additionally, we will introduce specialized solutions for industrial projects, further enhancing our service offerings in the Kingdom. Our goal is to grow our team by over 25% while continuing to elevate service quality, client experience, and governance advisory. With the upcoming Saudi Building Code (SBC-201) and Saudi Fire Code (SBC-801) changes, AESG remains committed to guiding clients through compliance with practical, high-impact Fire & Life Safety solutions—designed to be simple, effective, and achievable' said Abdullah Faza, Director – Fire and Life Safety, Middle East at AESG. Beyond Saudi Arabia, AESG is also expanding its regional footprint, recently establishing a dedicated Fire & Life Safety team in Cairo and is set to expand its teams in the Asia Pacific market with hires in Sydney and Singapore. This expansion includes the appointment of Samer Mehran as Senior FLS Consultant for the company's Egypt office. With over 15 years of industry experience, Mehran brings deep technical expertise and leadership to support AESG's continued growth across the Middle East.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AESG targets 25% growth in Saudi Fire & Life Safety team ahead of new building and fire codes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – As Saudi Arabia's construction sector continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, the Kingdom is set to reinforce fire and life safety (FLS) standards with the introduction of updated Saudi Building Code (SBC) and Saudi Fire Code (SFC) regulations in mid-2025. In preparation for these changes, AESG has strengthened its Fire & Life Safety division, expanding its Saudi-based team with a number of new hires, including fire protection engineers, senior fire protection engineers, and principal fire protection engineers. This strategic expansion enhances the firm's ability to support complex projects with advanced mechanical and electrical fire protection expertise. AESG is among the select few Fire & Life Safety firms actively operating in Saudi Arabia and is one of only two International Consultancy firms certified by Civil Defense as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative and reviewer, reaffirming the firm's deep commitment to Vision 2030. 'Saudi Arabia's rapid expansion of mega and giga projects has significantly increased the demand for specialized Fire & Life Safety expertise. These large-scale developments require meticulous and complex fire safety planning, both from a design and regulatory standpoint. The complexity of Saudi projects necessitates both robust local knowledge as well as international expertise to develop equivalencies and alternative solutions, allowing AESG to go beyond standard code compliance and deliver high-value, performance-based fire safety solutions,' said Saeed al Abbar, CEO at AESG. In 2024, AESG played a critical role in upgrading fire and life safety codes and systems for some of Saudi Arabia's most iconic developments, including critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities and luxury hospitality projects. The firm also collaborated with developers on major new projects ensuring state-of-the-art fire safety systems were integrated at these developments from the outset. Collectively, AESG's efforts have helped safeguard over SAR 30 billion worth of built assets in Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, AESG is set to further expand its Fire & Life Safety division in Saudi Arabia in 2025. 'We are strengthening our advisory services in policy, procedures, and governance, leveraging expertise gained from giga-projects. Additionally, we will introduce specialized solutions for industrial projects, further enhancing our service offerings in the Kingdom. Our goal is to grow our team by over 25% while continuing to elevate service quality, client experience, and governance advisory. With the upcoming Saudi Building Code (SBC-201) and Saudi Fire Code (SBC-801) changes, AESG remains committed to guiding clients through compliance with practical, high-impact Fire & Life Safety solutions—designed to be simple, effective, and achievable' said Abdullah Faza, Director - Fire and Life Safety, Middle East at AESG. Beyond Saudi Arabia, AESG is also expanding its regional footprint, recently establishing a dedicated Fire & Life Safety team in Cairo and is set to expand its teams in the Asia Pacific market with hires in Sydney and Singapore. This expansion includes the appointment of Samer Mehran as Senior FLS Consultant for the company's Egypt office. With over 15 years of industry experience, Mehran brings deep technical expertise and leadership to support AESG's continued growth across the Middle East. -Ends- About AESG AESG is an international Consultancy, Engineering and Advisory firm committed to driving sustainability in the built environment and beyond. With the highest calibre leadership team in our field, we pair technical knowledge with practical experience to provide hands-on, bespoke strategic solutions to our clients. We have one of the largest dedicated specialist consultancy teams working on projects within the building, urban planning, infrastructure and strategic advisory sectors. With decades of cumulative experience, our team offers specialist expertise in sustainable design, sustainable engineering, fire and life safety, façade engineering, commissioning, digital delivery, waste management, environmental consultancy, strategy and advisory, security consultancy, cost management and acoustics. Our prestigious portfolio demonstrates our extensive capabilities and our ability to consistently deliver best in class solutions to some of the industry's most complex technical challenges.
