Fast-food restaurants that wish to be open for 24 hours must be obligated to hire Saudis in their administrations and employ private security guards.
Four government agencies have issued a joint recommendation stipulating these conditions that will be applied to restaurants that are located on roads and main streets.
Government bodies, especially the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, will issue special work permits to the restaurants that are willing to fulfill these conditions. A committee formed by the Ministries of Labor, Interior, Commerce and Municipal & Rural Affairs, has endorsed these recommendations.
The recommendations include security requirements such as hiring security guards and installing surveillance cameras in and outside restaurants. These restaurants also must have Saudi branch managers.
Speaking to Arab News, Chairman of the Hospitality Committee at the Jeddah Chamber for Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Harthi said: “This decision will have a positive role to allow restaurants to offer services 24 hours a day like pharmacies.”
He added: “However, working for 24 hours depends on the operational capacity of the restaurants. There are some restaurants that cannot be open over 24 hours. Companies that manage fast-food restaurants can avoid high costs and ensure services to clients who need it around the clock.”
Fast-food joints eyeing 24-hour operation must up Saudization
Fast-food joints eyeing 24-hour operation must up Saudization
Saudi Arabia advances in Universal Health Coverage index
- Life expectancy in Kingdom rose from 74 in 2016 to 79.7 in 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in the Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index, reinforcing its position among leading nations in global health indicators, according to the latest data released by the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
The Kingdom recorded a score of 83 points in the latest UHC update, marking a nine-point increase within two years and placing Saudi Arabia among countries classified as having high-level health service coverage.
The steady rise reflects sustained improvements over the past two decades and underscores the impact of the Kingdom’s Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030.
The UHC Service Coverage Index is one of the internationally recognized Sustainable Development Goal indicators and measures access to essential health services across key areas, including preventive care, treatment, and system capacity.
Progress in the index is closely linked to broader development outcomes such as improved quality of life, reduced disease burden, and enhanced social well-being.
Saudi Arabia’s advancement has been driven by a strategic focus on preventive healthcare, strengthened primary care services, expanded early screening programs, and increased health system readiness.
The transformation has also been supported by rapid digitalization, including platforms such as Sehhaty and the Seha Virtual Hospital, which have expanded access to care and improved service efficiency nationwide.
These reforms have translated into measurable public health gains. Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rose from 74 years in 2016 to about 79.7 in 2025, bringing the Kingdom close to its Vision 2030 target of 80 years and highlighting the effectiveness of preventive and treatment programs.
Health Minister Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel said the progress reflected the tangible outcomes of Vision 2030 and sustained leadership support.
He said: “The improvements we see today in international health indicators demonstrate the real impact of the Kingdom’s health transformation, which prioritizes prevention, primary care empowerment, and digital health solutions. Raising life expectancy to 79.7 years is the result of an integrated effort focused on improving people’s health and quality of life.”
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the UHC index further strengthens its standing among G20 countries and underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to building a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable health system, with people at the center of national development.
