Conditions for a street vendor license in Saudi Arabia

Conditions for a street vendor license in Saudi Arabia

Disclaimer: This is a legal article that provides information that does not replace consulting a competent lawyer to help you and for more accurate information.

The traveling sales profession is a flexible investment opportunity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its success is based on full compliance with legal requirements. 

Here we review the requirements for obtaining a street vendor license, the steps for applying for a license through the Baladi platform, the permitted sites, and the list of municipal penalties, to ensure that you conduct your commercial activity regularly and avoid any legal consequences.

What is a street vendor?

According to Article 1 of the Saudi Street Vendors Regulations, a street vendor –according to Article 1 of the Saudi Street Vendors Regulations– means anyone who displays his goods in order to sell them in permitted places and locations without having a fixed, private place, whether he is settled in a specific location or moves from one place to another.

A street vendor can conduct his business by:

• Basta: It is a space designated for the merchant to display his products without storage, provided that the display is not directly on the ground.
• Counter/kiosk: A small facility designated for selling the products of the street vendor and located in locations designated for it by the secretariat or municipality.
• Mobile vehicles: These are vehicles designed to display goods and provide services permitted in accordance with municipal requirements and conditions.

What are the conditions for obtaining a street vendor license in Saudi Arabia?

What are the conditions for obtaining a street vendor license in Saudi Arabia?

The following conditions must be met to obtain a Riyadh street vendor permit:

• The license applicant must be of Saudi nationality.
• He must be at least 18 years old.
• Not to be on the list of detainees in the secretariat or municipality.
• Not to be among the tribes banned by the regime.
• He does not have a mobile vehicle license.
• He has no outlet.
• He does not have a business license.

What are the places where a street vendor is allowed to practice selling in Saudi Arabia?

After obtaining a license, the street vendor – can– display and sell his goods in the places specified in accordance with Article 3 of the Street Vendors Regulations in Saudi Arabia, which are:

• Inside government and private facilities.
• Public squares and parks.
• Event sites.
• Municipal investment sites.
• Designated places in popular markets.
• Dedicated places on a commercial street.

Sites prohibited for street vendors

• At traffic lights.
• Road intersections, entrances and exits of main and secondary roads.
• High traffic density roads.
• Sites designated for police, traffic, civil defense, ambulances and parking lots for persons with disabilities.
• Bicycle routes and parking spaces.

How to issue a street vendor license?

A street vendor can apply for the mobile vehicle license issuance service to obtain the necessary license through the Baladi platform by following the following steps:

• Visit the Baladi platform and access the service “Issuing a mobile vehicle license”
• Log in with your ID number and password.
• Fill in the applicant’s data.
• Enter vehicle or mobile vehicle data.
• Entering the geographical location data allowed to carry out the sale or provide the service.
• Attach the required documents.
• Fill in additional data such as Instagram account, website, Snapchat account, etc.
• Calculate total fees.
• Choose a payment mechanism.
• Pay fees and submit the application.
• The application is reviewed by specialists and a license is issued.

How much is a street vendor license fee in Saudi Arabia?

Street vendor license fees in Saudi Arabia vary depending on the number of days, site area, and license type.

What is the penalty for a street vendor in Saudi Arabia?

What is the penalty for a street vendor in Saudi Arabia?

The table of penalties for municipal violations specifies the penalties resulting when a street vendor commits one of the following violations:

• Violation of the practice of selling outside designated locations: The penalty shall be a fine ranging from 100 to 300 Saudi riyals, with confiscation of the goods if the products are expired.
• Violation of the license owner’s absence from the site: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 50 to 100 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of parking or sleeping in an unlicensed location: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 300 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of employing workers who do not hold health certificates in related activities: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 Saudi riyals, with the license cancelled.
• Violation of the practice of selling in an outlet without a license: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 500 Saudi riyals, and the goods shall be confiscated.
• Violation of tampering with or damaging sales outlets: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 200 to 1,000 Saudi riyals, along with cancellation of the license and compensation for the damaged item.
• Violation of the licensed activity: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 500 Saudi riyals, with the license cancelled.
• Violation of non-compliance with site cleanliness: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 200 Saudi riyals.
• Smoking violation at the outlet or mobile vehicle: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 200 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of non-compliance with clothing, gloves, masks, or health safety: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 100 to 500 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of the practice of selling in an unlicensed vehicle: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 200 to 1,000 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of practicing the activity of street vendors with an expired license: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 200 to 1,000 Saudi riyals.
• Violation of the activity of selling to non-Saudis: The violator shall be punished with a fine ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 Saudi riyals.

Compliance with regulations is not just a procedural step, but a strategic investment in the sustainability of your project. 

Don’t leave your business vulnerable to unexpected violations and fines. At Abdulmajeed Al-Rasheed Attorney’s Office, commercial attorneys carefully review your licenses and ensure your activities comply with Saudi rules and regulations, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.