Saudi barber shop rules are back in the spotlight after the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing reminded men’s barber shops across the Kingdom this week that every barber needs a valid health certificate and every reusable tool must be sterilised after each customer. The ministry also restated that cutting hair at a customer’s home is not allowed without a dedicated permit issued through the Balady platform.
For the many expats who work as barbers, and the families who book a barber to come to the house, the home service point is the one to pay attention to.
What the ministry announced
The ministry did not introduce a new law. It called on shop owners to comply with the existing men’s barber shop requirements, issued by ministerial decision in 1446 AH (2024), and set out the key hygiene points again.
| Requirement | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Valid health certificate for every barber | Workers |
| Personal hygiene and safe practice before and during service | Workers |
| Reusable tools cleaned, disinfected and sterilised after every customer | Shop |
| Single-use tools such as blades thrown away straight after use | Shop |
| At least one sterilisation device on the premises | Shop |
| Equipment sterilised regularly and service area kept clean | Shop |
| No service outside the shop without a dedicated permit | Home services |
The full list sits in the official Men’s Barber Shop Requirements document published by the ministry. Clause 5.1.24 bans home services unless the provider holds the specific permit for them.
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Follow on WhatsAppSaudi barber shop rules for home services
A barber who visits customers at home must hold a home service permit from Balady, the ministry’s licensing platform. Without it, the service counts as unlicensed activity outside the shop.
In practice, home haircuts are common in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, often arranged through a WhatsApp number or a delivery-style app. Many expats in Saudi Arabia use them for children or elderly parents. The ministry has not published the permit fee or the exact criteria in this week’s update, so check the requirements on Balady before relying on a home barber.
Who is affected
- Barbers employed by a shop. You need a current health certificate, and private home bookings on the side are not allowed unless you hold the home service permit.
- Shop owners and investors. The requirements cover sterilisation equipment, disposable blades and a valid certificate for every worker.
- Customers. You are entitled to a fresh blade and sterilised tools. If a shop reuses razors, you can raise it with the municipality.
What expats should do now
- If you work as a barber, check the expiry date of your health certificate and renew it before it lapses.
- If you run or manage a shop, review the official requirements document against your setup, especially the sterilisation device and disposal of blades.
- If you book home haircuts, ask the provider whether they hold a Balady home service permit. A freelancer working without one exposes both of you to problems if inspectors are involved.
- Keep an eye on Balady for the home service permit details, since the ministry has not yet published the fee or criteria in this update.
What has not changed
The ministry says its approach is to explain the requirements and raise awareness first, before moving to penalties. No new fine amounts or start date were announced. The requirements themselves have been in force since the 2024 decision, so shops that already comply do not need to do anything new.
The message is simple: clean tools, certified barbers and a permit for any haircut outside the shop.