MADINAH— The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing had issued more than 574,000 municipal licenses during the year 2025. The issued licenses include more than 202,000 commercial licenses, 66,000 occupancy certificates, and 78,000 building permits. This contributes to supporting economic activities, regulating construction work, and improving the quality of buildings in cities. The issuance of licenses is within the framework of the approved municipal licensing system. This comes as part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to regulate urban development activities, improve procedural efficiency, and streamline services for beneficiaries and clients. The ministry stated that the municipal licenses also include 8,400 renovation permits, 4,700 demolition permits, and 4,700 land fencing permits, all within the approved regulatory procedures. This contributes to organizing the urban environment, improving the urban landscape, and ensuring the safety of buildings and facilities. The ministry reported that the municipal licensing system also included the issuance of approximately 199,000 excavation permits, in addition to approximately 7,000 permits for adding and modifying building permit components; this supports the flexibility of modernization and development in existing projects, and enhances the efficiency of land and building use. Regarding procedural efficiency, the ministry explained that the municipal licensing system continued to develop its procedures through digital channels and approved pathways. The average time for issuing municipal licenses reached 24 hours during 2025, contributing to faster processing and increased beneficiary satisfaction. The ministry also noted achieving 100 percent compliance with the first phase target for building compliance certification, as part of implementing municipal requirements and strengthening adherence to approved standards. This, in turn, improves building quality, enhances safety, and regulates land use. The ministry affirmed that these indicators fall within its regulatory responsibilities for the municipal sector, including developing licensing and oversight procedures and updating relevant guidelines and requirements. This contributes to enhancing the efficiency of municipal work and improving the urban environment.