Grocery store requirements in Saudi Arabia are set by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing document “Requirements for Groceries, Supermarkets and Central Markets” (1446 AH / 2025). It requires Civil Defense approval before the licence is issued, refers all fire protection to the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801), and asks for security cameras, protected and earthed wiring, and refrigerators kept away from heat sources. This article pulls together the safety side only: extinguishers, refrigerators, electrical work and cameras, and how to prepare the shop before applying on Salamah.
Key takeaways
- The official document separates the grocery (baqala, 24 m² minimum), the supermarket (tamwinat, 100 to 499 m²) and the central market (500 m² and above).
- Civil Defense approval is a condition before the municipal licence, and all fire requirements are referred to SBC 801.
- The document does not set the number or size of extinguishers; these are worked out from the shop area and hazard under the code.
- Refrigerators must be kept away from any heat source, storage shelves above them are not allowed, and a separate thermometer is required.
- Security cameras are required under the Security Surveillance Cameras Law and its executive regulations.
In this article
- What are the grocery store requirements and who issues them?
- Fire extinguishers in a grocery: type and location
- Supermarket requirements for refrigerators and cold storage
- Electrical work, lighting and air conditioning
- Security cameras in groceries and supermarkets
- Aisles, shelving and first aid
- Quick table: safety requirements by shop type
- How to prepare a grocery before applying for a Salamah licence
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
What are the grocery store requirements and who issues them?
The reference is the “Requirements for Groceries, Supermarkets and Central Markets” document published by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH), edition 1446 AH, 2025. It covers site, building, operation and food safety. Here we focus on the parts that touch fire, electrical safety and security.
The document opens with definitions, and they matter because a few requirements change with the activity type:
- Grocery (baqala): sells packaged food, personal care items and cleaning products; minimum area 24 m².
- Supermarket (tamwinat): sells packaged and fresh food and daily needs; 100 m² to 499 m².
- Central market: 500 m² and above.
Under licensing requirements (clause 2.1) the document lists three conditions: compliance with the municipal licensing system and its regulations, Civil Defense approval before the licence is issued, and a valid commercial registration covering the activity. In practice, the Balady licence will not be issued until the shop is ready on the safety side. That is where AZEIDK’s Civil Defense approval support comes in.
Fire extinguishers in a grocery: type and location
Many shop owners are surprised that the municipal document does not give an extinguisher count. Clause 4.10 refers all fire prevention and protection requirements to the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801), and the 2024 edition of the Saudi Building Code has been mandatory since 30 June 2025. The number and spacing of extinguishers therefore follow the shop area, travel distance and type of hazard, not one fixed figure for every grocery.
On type, most groceries need a simple mix:
- Multipurpose dry powder: for ordinary fires in cartons, plastics and shelving, such as the Falcon Gold 6 kg dry powder extinguisher.
- CO2: next to the main electrical panel and any compressor room, such as the 6 kg CO2 extinguisher.
- Wet chemical (kitchen) extinguisher: only where the supermarket has a frying or hot food corner using oil.
Mount the extinguisher on the wall in a visible spot near the exit, not behind cartons or inside a locked store room. Keep the inspection tag on it and check the gauge each month to make sure it reads in the green zone. For a first estimate by area, use the fire extinguisher calculator, and see all available types in the fire extinguishers category.
Supermarket requirements for refrigerators and cold storage
Refrigerators work harder than anything else in a grocery. They run 24 hours a day and their compressors push heat out to the back and top. The document gives them clause 5.4.4, which includes:
- Enough refrigerators for the shop’s needs, with glass-front cold rooms or upright units preferred.
- A separate thermometer for cooling and freezing units, and adequate lighting inside the refrigerators.
- Products sorted and not packed in a way that blocks air circulation inside the unit.
- Cooling units kept away from any heat source, and power never disconnected while food is inside.
Clause 5.4.2 adds that storage shelves must not be placed on top of refrigerators. This has a clear safety side: cartons above a compressor block ventilation, raise its temperature and put combustible material over a heat source. Storage temperatures are set at 4°C or below for chilled goods and -18°C or below for frozen goods, with readings monitored and recorded.
From site practice: leave space behind each refrigerator for hot air to escape, clean the condenser of dust regularly, and never run more than one refrigerator from a single portable extension lead.
Electrical work, lighting and air conditioning
Clause 5.4.3 requires all wiring, devices, the main distribution board and connections to be covered, protected and compliant with approved standards and the Saudi Electrical Code (SBC 401), with an earthing system to prevent electric shock. Under lighting (clause 4.7), lights must cover every area of the shop including the store room, and gas lighting is not allowed inside or outside the premises.
Air conditioning (clause 4.8) must keep the temperature between 16°C and 25°C at all times, and the units must comply with the Saudi Mechanical Code (SBC 501).
What we often see during pre-licensing site visits: a distribution board hidden behind stock, exposed cables above the false ceiling, and extension leads feeding drinks fridges. All of these are easy to spot, and fixing them before the inspection costs less than applying twice.
Security cameras in groceries and supermarkets
Clause 5.3 is direct: security cameras must be installed in line with the Security Surveillance Cameras Law and its executive regulations. Details such as camera locations and recording retention come from the law itself, which we cover in Security Cameras Law: obligations for facilities.
In a small grocery, coverage usually focuses on the entrance, the cashier, the aisles and the store room. AZEIDK supplies and installs cameras and recorders as part of its security and surveillance systems.
Aisles, shelving and first aid
Fast evacuation depends on clear aisles. Clause 5.4 sets a minimum distance between shelves of 80 cm in groceries, 140 cm in supermarkets and 160 cm in central markets, and display height must not exceed 200 cm including goods. Stairs, outside walkways and the accessible ramp must be free of anything that blocks movement (clause 4.3), and a first aid box must be available (clause 5.1).
Quick table: safety requirements by shop type
| Item | Grocery | Supermarket | Central market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 24 m² minimum | 100 to 499 m² | 500 m² and above |
| Civil Defense approval before licence | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire requirements | Per the Saudi Fire Protection Code SBC 801 (clause 4.10) | ||
| Minimum aisle between shelves | 80 cm | 140 cm | 160 cm |
| Display height including goods | Not above 200 cm | ||
| Electrical | Protected wiring compliant with SBC 401, with earthing | ||
| Refrigerators | Away from heat sources, no shelves on top, separate thermometer | ||
| Security cameras | Per the Security Surveillance Cameras Law and its regulations | ||
| First aid box | Required | ||
How to prepare a grocery before applying for a Salamah licence
- Confirm the activity and area: grocery, supermarket or central market, since aisle widths and some requirements differ.
- Book a site visit: covering extinguishers, electrical work, lighting, exits, and any building fire alarm or sprinklers that must not be covered or removed.
- Rearrange refrigerators and shelving: remove anything stored on top of refrigerators and keep aisles at the required width.
- Install the right extinguishers: enough to cover the floor area, with valid inspection tags.
- Install the cameras and check that the recorder works.
- Apply on Salamah: read the Salamah certificate guide and run through the Salamah inspection checklist first.
After licensing, keep the shop ready: service and refill extinguishers when needed under preventive maintenance contracts, and keep a record you can show at renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Does a grocery need Civil Defense approval?
Yes. The grocery requirements document makes Civil Defense approval a condition before the municipal licence is issued. It is obtained through the Salamah platform.
How many fire extinguishers does a grocery need?
The document does not give a number. The count follows the floor area, travel distance and hazard under SBC 801. A small grocery usually starts with a dry powder unit near the exit and a CO2 unit near the electrical panel.
What is the minimum area for a grocery?
24 m² for a grocery, 100 to 499 m² for a supermarket, and 500 m² or more for a central market, based on the document’s definitions.
Are security cameras mandatory in a supermarket?
Yes. Clause 5.3 requires security cameras installed under the Security Surveillance Cameras Law and its executive regulations.
Can shelves or cartons be placed on top of refrigerators?
No. The document prohibits storage shelves above refrigerators and requires cooling units to be kept away from any heat source.
How wide must grocery aisles be?
At least 80 cm in groceries, 140 cm in supermarkets and 160 cm in central markets, with display height not above 200 cm.
What is the difference between the Balady licence and the Salamah licence?
The Balady licence is the municipal commercial licence for the activity. The Salamah licence is Civil Defense approval of the shop’s fire safety readiness. The second is needed before the first is issued.
Conclusion
The safety side of grocery store requirements is clear: Civil Defense approval first, fire protection under SBC 801, protected and earthed wiring, refrigerators with nothing stored on top and away from heat, cameras installed under the law, and aisles at the set width. Getting this right from the start shortens licensing and cuts inspection remarks.
Preparing a grocery or supermarket for licensing? The AZEIDK team can help you choose the right extinguishers and cameras and check the shop before you apply, as part of Civil Defense approval support. Talk to the AZEIDK team
