How to get quick approval from the municipality? Here are the conditions for opening a supermarket in Saudi Arabia

 

Municipality approval is in your hands: Requirements and conditions for opening a supermarket in Saudi Arabia

 

The supermarket project has become one of the attractive options for investors in light of the increasing growth in consumer goods within the Kingdom. However, these investors must comply with the conditions and requirements for opening a supermarket in Saudi Arabia set by the municipality, to regulate this sector and raise its quality according to globally applied standards, and ensure health and safety standards in the transportation, storage and display of goods and food.

 

First: Design a logo

You need to design a logo for the supermarket you want to open, and this logo must be designed from scratch without imitating another logo, and it is also prohibited to use it in an activity other than the activity for which it was designated. The logo must include all the visual elements of the unified commercial identity, such as: color, type, size and type of font.

Second: Supermarket Location

Choosing the location of the store is one of the necessary conditions for opening a supermarket in Saudi Arabia, as there are three basic conditions that must be taken into account when choosing the geographical location, which are

:

• The building permit issued by the municipality for the building and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs must permit the use of the store for commercial use.
• The location of the store must not be directly exposed to any sources of pollution, such as: industrial waste areas, sewage, and landfill.
• Availability of parking spaces that are proportional to the area of ​​the store.

Third: Exterior design

The building must meet all the necessary conditions and licenses according to the Saudi Building Code. This is a basic condition for opening a supermarket. There are other conditions related to the exterior design, which are as follows:

1. Store front

The front of the supermarket must be made of transparent glass, such as Securit or any other similar type, and its thickness must not be less than 12 mm, to allow clear vision from inside and outside the store, and the width of the single door must not be less than 90 cm, or 160 cm for double doors. The glass must be automatically closed and completely free of any scratches, holes, welds or any other defects that affect the view or its external appearance.

 

2. Shop sign

The height of the sign shall not be less than 80 cm, and its width shall not be less than 300 cm so that it does not exceed the shop front, and the protrusion of the signboard shall not exceed 50 cm from the shop wall. The shop sign shall contain the name of the establishment according to the commercial register, and the commercial register number in PT100 font size.

 

If there is no prior trademark, the supermarket sign shall conform to the unified design and visual identity in color, size and type of font used (colors shall be harmonious).

 

3. Shop external fixtures

First, for external wires and pipes, they must be completely covered so that it is easy to carry out maintenance and cleaning operations without any obstacles. Secondly, for the locations of air conditioners and external cooling units, they must be in accordance with the building permit, and if this is not possible, they must be installed at a height of at least 220 cm from the ground, as shown in the picture.

 

4. External store walls

All external store walls must be either painted or covered with stone, marble, granite, or any other type that complies with the Saudi Building Code. It is important to note that all external walls must be free of stickers, cracks, and fissures that spoil the external appearance of the supermarket, while adhering to periodic maintenance for any defects that appear in the future.

 

5. Thermal insulation for external glass

You need to install a transparent thermal insulation on the external glass in the store front, in order to reduce the heat transmitted to the inside of the store, to reduce the consumption of air conditioners (energy).

6. External sliding door for the supermarket

If your supermarket opens directly to the street, you need to install an external sliding door, taking into account some conditions, such as: installing a sliding door to allow clear vision from the outside to the inside of the store, and to be completely free of rust or any defects that affect its durability and external appearance.

 

Fourth: Interior design

One of the most important conditions for opening a supermarket is the elements of the interior design of the store, the most important of which are the following:

1. Store sections

For supplies and central markets, the store must be divided into several sections, so that each section includes a group of related products, such as:

• Meat and poultry section: A place designated for cutting meat and poultry and preparing them with all its equipment, and another place designated only for display and sale, and contains a display refrigerator with a temperature between 0 to 4 degrees Celsius.
• Fruits and vegetables section: They are placed on rust-proof metal shelves, and the shelves are 15 cm wide and inside a large display refrigerator with a temperature not exceeding 10 degrees Celsius.
• Bakery: An independent place containing bread preparation and preparation equipment such as kneading machines and leveling ovens, and another place for displaying and selling bread equipped with stainless steel shelves.
• Cheese and salads section: Display refrigerators (temperature between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius), electronic scales, packaging and packing materials, cutting and packaging machines.
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• Nuts and spices section: Metal shelves and drawers resistant to rust and moisture, covered with glass and plastic in a way that does not obstruct vision (spices and nuts are not left exposed).

2. Internal aisles

The width of the internal aisles in the store should not be less than 80 cm for groceries, 140 cm for supplies, and 160 cm for supermarkets, and the distance between the store entrance and the cashier should not be less than 90 cm.

3. Store shelves

The store shelves must be made of metal materials that can be washed and cleaned, and are resistant to rust and moisture, such as aluminum, heavy-duty glass, and the use of wood is prohibited. It is prohibited to place goods and products directly on the floor of the store, but they must be placed on shelves at least 15 cm above the ground. Finally, the height of the shelves, including the displayed goods, must not exceed 200 cm maximum.

4. Accounting unit and shopping carts

Shopping carts must be in the area designated for them inside the store and close to the main entrance, and it is strictly forbidden to place them outside the store. The accounting unit (cashier) must be comfortable for the accountant, and no goods should be placed on it, taking into account covering the electrical wires and telephone connections away from traffic corridors.

 

5. Storage area (warehouse)

The storage area or warehouse is a room separate from the supermarket, where goods and food items are stored. The following should be taken into account:

• The walls should be made of easy-to-clean materials that are resistant to rust and fires.
• Use stickers bearing the word "warehouse" on the warehouse door.
• Do not place goods directly on the ground, but on shelves at least 15 cm above the ground.
• The warehouse should not contain sources of humidity such as water taps or sources of pollution such as toilets.

 

Sixth: Facilities and equipment

There are some facilities and equipment that must be provided inside the supermarket, which are:

Cooling: It is prohibited to use window air conditioning, but it is permissible to use split air conditioning. The number of air conditioners used depends on the area of ​​the store, to maintain the temperature between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius using a temperature measuring and tracking device.

Freezing units: They are designated for frozen products, and their temperature does not exceed -18 degrees Celsius.

Insect traps: To combat pests, insects and rodents, and install a sufficient number of them, one for each section inside the supermarket.

Surveillance camera system: An integrated system of internal and external surveillance cameras must be installed to cover all parts of the supermarket from the inside and outside, except for the bathrooms.

Safety systems: Mobile fire extinguishing cylinders that operate with powder and others that operate with carbon dioxide gas (one for each section or 50 square meters of the place area). In addition to the necessity of placing a first aid box inside the supermarket.

Integrated POS system: Devices and equipment must be provided first, such as a computer, display screen, keyboard, barcode reader and thermal printer for receipts, electronic scale, and PCI payment device.

Secondly, you must subscribe to a POS management program to manage these devices and equipment together, and perform a number of key tasks within the supermarket, such as: issuing and printing the electronic invoice according to the requirements of the Zakat and Income Authority for the customer, managing inventory and calculating tax, recording sales, providing reports and analyses, protecting data and enhancing security, and other essential tasks.

 

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Seventh: Additional requirements for opening a supermarket

• Displaying licensing documents: In a prominent place at the accounting unit, for example. The following documents include: commercial register, civil defense permit, municipal license, value-added tax registration certificate, and other government documents.

 

You can now replace government licensing documents with the unified electronic code only, which is a new service launched by the Saudi Business Center in the form of a quick response electronic code (QR code). When the electronic code is scanned for any commercial establishment, it displays all documents of the government agencies associated with it.

• Bathrooms and laundry facilities: They must not be directly connected to the displayed food items or to the packaging, storage and packaging areas.
• Displaying prices of goods and products: An identification card must be placed with the price of each product, whether on the product or on the shelf, and the value must be in Saudi Riyals only.
• Separation of goods and products: Cleaning products, cosmetics, disinfectants and pesticides must be separated from food products inside the warehouse (storage).
• Issuing health certificates for workers: Any worker dealing with food and products related to public health must be issued a health certificate to prove that he is free from infectious diseases.
• Hanging a poster with emergency numbers: There must be a poster hung in a prominent place containing emergency numbers or to report any violation, such as numbers: Ministry of Commerce, Civil Defense, Red Crescent, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, etc.
• Tobacco products: Advertising and promoting tobacco products is prohibited, but they must be placed in a drawer below the accounting unit in a 100% invisible manner. It is prohibited to sell these products to customers under the age of 18.
• Energy drinks: They must be placed in a separate refrigerator or dedicated shelves separated from drinks and food products, and they are prohibited to sell them to customers under the age of 18.

 

Finally, your commitment to implementing these requirements will make it easier for you to obtain a municipal license as soon as possible, so that you can immediately start preparing to open your own supermarket.