In a school, the occupants are children who depend on adults to evacuate, numbers are large, and activities range from laboratories to canteens and halls. That is why Civil Defense requirements for schools and kindergartens are among the strictest.
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?
Classification of Educational Buildings
The Civil Defense regulations classify facilities into groups by use, with educational buildings as a separate group. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has also issued the requirements for private educational buildings (1447 AH), which regulate sites and buildings.
Kindergartens in Existing Buildings
The educational building requirements allow nurseries and kindergartens in part of an existing building (commercial or educational) under conditions, including being on the ground floor with a separate entrance and exit suitable for children, in line with the Saudi Building Code. They also allow them on residential land in a standalone building with an amended building permit. Check the approved version for details.
Essential Safety Requirements
- Sufficient, protected escape routes, and exits leading directly outside.
- A fire alarm system suited to the building's size and number of students. Read: Fire alarm system requirements.
- Firefighting equipment and hose cabinets according to the building's height and area.
- Emergency lighting and clear signage.
- Separation of laboratories, canteens and high-risk service rooms.
- An evacuation plan on every floor, and safe assembly points. Read: How to prepare an evacuation plan.
Evacuation and Training
The Civil Defense regulation for residential and office buildings requires the safety officer to prepare a detailed evacuation and firefighting plan and train staff on it. In schools, the plan must include teachers' roles, assistance for young children and people with disabilities, and regular drills. Read: Fire evacuation drills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a kindergarten be opened in a residential villa?
The educational building requirements set the conditions, including a standalone building and an amended building permit; review the approved requirements before starting.
How often should evacuation drills be held?
This is set by the facility's approved emergency plan and the instructions of the competent authorities; what matters is that drills are regular and documented.
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 Details of how we can help are on our Road Safety Studies service page. 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.