Draft terms and conditions announced by the Ministry for operating laundries and furnishing shops

The proposed terms and conditions for running launderettes and furnishing stores were released by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. These are made to help those who want to invest in this industry and guarantee the highest technical standards in compliance with the Saudi Building Code's criteria. These also seek to maintain public health, stop the transmission of infectious illnesses, lessen the issue of visual distortion, and create an atmosphere that is conducive to the sector's commercial process organisation.

The need for a Civil Defence licence, the filing of a current business registration, and a licence for a mode of transportation if the client receives delivery laundry services, are included among the suggested requirements. If a room is set aside for it, the regulations permit patrons to change clothes within the laundry.

Architectural criteria were also specified in the terms and conditions. These include providing a minimum of one square metre of space for men to change into within the laundry, along with the ability to have restrooms, hand sinks and a prayer place. If there is at least one linear metre separating the cashier from the laundry door, the welcome area's total area—including the cashier—must not be less than ten square metres. Through side extensions, the hot air produced by the washing machines during the cycle is drained outside the laundry and is hidden from view behind the building's façade.

One of the other restrictions and conditions is that no apparent public release of steam from ironing activities will take place outside the store. It needs to be in the drainage channels, and the laundry staff needs to have a designated rest space with at least one chair.

Operational criteria were also included in the proposal, such as acquiring a municipal licence before to beginning work. Any extra activity not covered by the licence cannot be practised.

Additionally, unless a sidewalk occupation licence is in place, the activity cannot be carried out on public sidewalks or outside the laundry's bounds.

One of the criteria is that all stickers must be removed from the laundry's exterior, except the unified QR code sticker and any official government instructions. Placing warning signs or using any other method to stop people from parking in front of the laundromat and public parking areas is forbidden. Closing parking lots allowed by the construction permit for stores and other commercial operations housed within an existing structure is forbidden. Moreover, storing anything unrelated to the activity in the laundry is forbidden.

Eating in the laundry is prohibited unless a workers' rest place is available. The suggested terms and conditions state that clothing must be put in designated baskets and not on the ground.