Saudi Arabia Approves New Regulations for Commercial Data Centers

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia has approved new municipal regulations aimed at strengthening the digital infrastructure of the Kingdom by establishing clearer requirements for commercial data centers. These regulations are designed to streamline the establishment, development, and operation of data centers through standardized requirements across the Kingdom. The ministry highlighted the critical role data centers play in the digital economy, serving as essential infrastructure for both government and private-sector entities to manage, process, and store data, ensuring continuity and efficiency of digital services. The regulations apply to standalone commercial data centers located within or outside urban boundaries, requiring sites to be easily accessible to operations and maintenance teams and have access to essential infrastructure such as electricity, telecommunications, and transportation. Facilities must comply with approved building regulations and requirements governing parking, setbacks, building heights, and landscaping, as well as regulations issued by relevant authorities. Licensing requirements include obtaining Civil Defense approval, holding a valid commercial registration covering the activities to be licensed, and securing approval from the authority supervising the activity. The issuance, renewal, amendment, suspension, and cancellation of licenses will be governed by the Municipal Licensing Procedures Law and its executive regulations. Commercial data centers will be required to comply with the Saudi Building Code, while design and construction supervision must be carried out by accredited engineering firms. The regulations also mandate compliance with relevant local and international standards covering construction and design, fire protection, cooling systems, electrical power, and backup systems to enhance the reliability and continuity of data center operations. Additional requirements cover building facades and overall appearance, lighting, flooring and ceilings, accessibility for people with disabilities, periodic maintenance, waste management, and security surveillance systems. Facilities must also display the unified electronic code that provides access to their regulatory information and documentation. The ministry stated that these regulations would provide a more reliable and sustainable environment for the data center sector, encourage investment and innovation in information technology, and enable the Kingdom's digital infrastructure to keep pace with the expansion of digital services. The regulations are set to take effect from the date of publication, and the ministry urged investors and stakeholders to review and comply with the approved regulatory, technical, and operational requirements.