Saudi Arabia Sets New Rules for Naming Public Facilities Across Kingdom
January 3, 2026
Saudi Arabia has launched a detailed framework to govern the naming of all public facilities in the Kingdom. Approved by the Saudi Cabinet and published recently, these rules will come into force 120 days after publication. They cover municipal buildings, schools, cultural and sports centers, religious sites, hospitals, transport hubs, and other public assets.
Each government body must follow these uniform naming rules when naming facilities it controls. They must also create their own executive bylaws to manage the process, including setting governance and procedural steps.
There are strict limits on names. Public facilities cannot be named after Saudi kings, crown princes, or allied leaders without the King’s approval. Names against Islamic Sharia are forbidden. Only seven Names of God may be used: Al-Salam, Al-Adl, Al-Awwal, Al-Nur, Al-Haqq, Al-Shahid, and Al-Malik.
When a facility is named after a person, authorities must verify their integrity. They will check the person’s mindset, criminal background, and security status in cooperation with relevant bodies. The name must reflect the person’s public standing and status.
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing will issue official naming categories after consulting other authorities. All public entities must follow these categories. The final approval of names lies with the head of the relevant entity, who can delegate this power.
Facilities may also be named using numbers alone or with names, giving flexibility.
Each entity must keep an updated database of their facility names and share it yearly with the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
These new rules replace previous ones about naming streets and squares and override any conflicting regulations. This move is part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to modernize administration, strengthen religious alignment, and unify naming practices countrywide. The goal is a transparent and culturally consistent naming system that shows the Kingdom’s values clearly.
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Tags:
Saudi arabia
Public Facilities
Naming Regulations
Islamic Principles
Government policy
Administrative Rules
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