In restaurants, the commercial kitchen is the main fire risk: hot oil, open flames and grease building up in extractor hoods. In the dining hall, large numbers of people make exits critical. This is a guide to Civil Defense requirements for restaurants and cafés.
How to Find Your Activity's Requirements on the Salamah Portal
Civil Defense licenses are issued through the Salamah portal. The application track is determined by the establishment's data: the request type, the main activity and the activity's floor area. Civil Defense guidance documents describe two tracks: an instant track completed online by attaching the requirement (an invoice or safety equipment certificate, or a technical report from an engineering office accredited on the portal, depending on the case), and a non-instant track that includes a site inspection. Read: Instant and non-instant activities on Salamah and When is a technical report required, and when is a safety equipment certificate enough?
Kitchen Requirements
- An automatic suppression system for cooking hoods over grease-producing equipment, as required by the code and the nature of the kitchen.
- Regular cleaning of hood ducts to remove grease, one of the most common causes of fires.
- Extinguishers suitable for cooking-oil fires (class K) near fryers, alongside general extinguishers.
- Gas safety: approved installations, shut-off valves, leak detectors and a safe location for cylinders or the tank.
- Ventilation and air balance in the kitchen.
Dining Hall Requirements
- Enough emergency exits for the capacity, not blocked by tables.
- Illuminated exit signs and emergency lighting.
- An alarm system and detectors according to the area.
When Does a Restaurant Become an Assembly Building?
Civil Defense requirements define assembly buildings as those intended for gatherings of 50 or more people. Large restaurants may fall under this classification, or be treated as an ancillary use of an assembly building, since the regulation allows restaurants and cafeterias as ancillary uses in assembly buildings. Assembly classification raises the escape route requirements.
Outdoor Seating
Seating on the sidewalk has its own permit and requirements. Read: Using the sidewalk in front of a shop.
Common Mistakes
- Neglecting hood cleaning.
- Storing gas cylinders inside the kitchen.
- Locking the emergency door to keep out insects or for security reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small café need a hood suppression system?
It depends on the type of cooking; greasy cooking calls for special protection, and the office determines this according to the code.
Is a restaurant an instant activity?
That is determined by the application track on the Salamah portal according to the activity and area.
Are the requirements the same for all establishments with the same activity?
No, they vary with floor area, number of occupants, classification and the building the establishment is in, and the actual requirements appear in the investor journey on the Salamah portal.
Who is responsible for maintaining fire systems?
The Ministry of Municipalities' requirements for warehouses and workshops, for example, state that the owner is responsible for installing and maintaining firefighting systems, with regular maintenance and calibration according to Civil Defense instructions.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that provides safety and fire protection services: designing and approving safety drawings, technical reports, compliance reports and following up licensing through the Salamah portal. Learn about our Civil Defense license service, or Learn more about our Safety System Drawing Design & Approval service. contact us to identify your facility's requirements.
Start with the complete guide: Salamah portal: the complete guide to Civil Defense licensing.
Information is based on the regulations and requirements of the General Directorate of Civil Defense (998.gov.sa) and the Saudi Fire Code; Civil Defense guidance documents do not replace the code. Requirements vary by activity, area and classification, so always refer to the investor journey on the Salamah portal. Last reviewed: October 2026.