Last updated: 22 October 2026
Car workshop rules in Saudi Arabia now put the customer first: every vehicle repair workshop must have an air-conditioned waiting area and let you watch your car being repaired, either through glass windows or, where that is not possible, through a live camera feed. The requirements come from the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH), Okaz and Al-Eqtisad reported on 22 October 2026.
Many expats in Saudi Arabia have handed over their car keys at a small industrial-area workshop and then waited outside in the heat with no idea what was being done to the car. These rules are meant to end that.
What the car workshop rules mean for customers
| Requirement | What you should see at the workshop |
|---|---|
| Waiting area | An air-conditioned area for customers |
| Watching the repair | Glass windows onto the work area, or a live camera feed if a direct view is not possible |
| Payment | Working electronic payment methods (mada, cards, wallets) |
| Licence check | The unified QR code shown clearly on the front, so you can check the licence and official documents |
| Parking | Customer cars parked inside the workshop, not on the sidewalk or the street |
| Workers | Professional certificates for jobs that need them |
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Rules for the workshop itself
The same MOMAH requirements also cover how a workshop is run:
- All work stays inside the licensed premises. Sidewalks and setback areas cannot be used for repairs.
- The building must follow the Saudi Building Code and fire protection rules, with suitable equipment and a first-aid kit.
- An oil interceptor must stop oil reaching the sewer network, and it must be checked at least once every three months.
- Used oil goes into dedicated tanks and is handed to recyclers or approved waste carriers. Any spill is cleaned up straight away.
- The workshop and the area around it must be kept clean, and facades, signs and floors maintained. Service pipes and AC units should not spoil the facade.
- The premises must meet universal access requirements for people with disabilities.
When MOMAH approved the workshop requirements in December 2025, it also grouped workshops by activity: mechanical repair, electrical repair, bodywork, painting, tyre services and oil services, and required surveillance cameras on site. Regional municipalities (amanas) check that workshops follow the rules.
What has not been announced yet
The reports do not give a start date, a grace period for existing workshops or the penalty for breaking these rules. MOMAH violations for shops are normally handled by the local amana under the municipal penalties schedule. We will update this page when the ministry or Balady publishes those details.
How to use these rules as a customer
- Scan the QR code on the front before you hand over the car. It shows whether the workshop is licensed.
- Ask to wait in the waiting area and keep an eye on your car through the glass or on the screen, especially for jobs like brake pads, oil changes or battery replacement.
- Ask for a written quote or job card before work starts, listing the parts and labour.
- Pay electronically and keep the receipt. It is your proof if a repair fails or the bill does not match the quote.
- Before a long trip, also check our list of safety essentials to keep in your car.
If a workshop works on the street, has no waiting area or refuses electronic payment, you can report it to the municipality through the Balady app or the 940 hotline.
Related car guides
- Repairs done before your inspection? Book it with our Fahas (MVPI) appointment guide.
- After an accident repair, check your vehicle insurance validity and our car insurance guide.
- Parking on the sidewalk outside a workshop can still cost you: see the traffic violations and fines list.
Sources: Okaz and Al-Eqtisad, 22 October 2026, and Al Weeam, 18 December 2025, citing the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing requirements for vehicle repair workshops.