Saudi Arabia makes Hejazi coastal design mandatory for Jeddah's new homes and renovations

Jeddah has instituted mandatory Hejazi coastal architectural design guidelines for all new residential building permits and renovation applications, with penalties of up to SR10,000 for violations. These guidelines aim to create contemporary developments while retaining the city's traditional Red Sea architectural identity. The rules require heritage-inspired elements in ventilation, lighting, and architectural features such as projections and setbacks for natural shade.

Local materials, including wood or modern alternatives, must be used, and approved color palettes include pearl white, sandy tones, and elements from traditional mashrabiya screens. Fines for engineering and supervising offices that fail to comply range from SR1,000 to SR5,000, with repeat offenses doubling the penalties. Contractors face fines of SR100 to SR500 for unauthorized facade changes, with repeat offenses doubling the fines and requiring rectification within 14 days.