The Minister of Tourism has adopted an updated regulation for private hospitality units, replacing the previous private tourist hospitality facility regulation. It was published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura as one of four new tourism regulations, and it directly affects anyone renting furnished apartments, chalets or holiday homes to tourists. Holders of current permits have no more than 90 days to comply.
What changed, in short
- From permit to licence: existing permits convert to licences at no extra fee through the Ministry's portal.
- Annual licence: one year at most, SAR 1,100, plus SAR 500 for each inspection visit after the first two.
- Three-licence cap: no more than three licences per person in one shared property, with proof of ownership or usufruct and no owners' association rules banning daily rental.
- Shomoos registration, keeping the unit's status current, and bookings and payments only through licensed platforms and travel service providers.
- Maintenance and cleaning contracts: operators must hold maintenance and cleaning contracts for their units when they hold more than three licences.
The clause that needs real preparation
This is the one requirement that cannot be satisfied with an online form. Beyond keeping each unit clean and ready before a guest arrives, an operator with more than three licensed units must hold a standing maintenance and cleaning contract that can be shown with the licence papers. In practice that means:
- A written contract with two clear parties: the licensee (name and licence number) and a provider with a commercial registration and VAT number.
- A defined scope: which units, which work (AC, plumbing, electrical, periodic cleaning), and how often.
- A record of execution: documented visits with reports and invoices, since the Ministry inspects facilities and refers violations to its committee.
How to comply within the window
Tashyik has a dedicated path for this:
- Enter your licensed unit count, licence number and property, pick the frequency (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual) and whether periodic cleaning is included.
- The contract is scheduled automatically with periodic visits by a verified technician; each visit appears in "My orders" a day ahead and ends with a report, photos and a tax invoice.
- You get a numbered contract document with both parties, your licence number and property, the scope and obligations, and a line stating it satisfies the regulation's requirement. It lives on a signed link valid for years; print it or save it as PDF.
- Breakdowns between visits are booked from the same account within minutes, with the Tashyik guarantee on every job.
Request the maintenance and cleaning contract for your units and our team replies within one business day with the final price and schedule.
FAQ
I have only three units. Do I need it?
The obligation is tied to holding more than three licences. Every unit still has to be clean and ready before each check-in, so a periodic contract remains the easiest way to guarantee that, but it is optional in your case.
Is a cleaning-only contract enough?
The regulation names maintenance and cleaning together, so we offer both options: maintenance only, or maintenance with periodic cleaning.
What if my unit count changes?
The contract is adjusted from the Tashyik dashboard and an updated document is issued under the same reference number.
Is the document approved by the Ministry?
The Ministry does not approve specific templates; it requires a standing contract. Tashyik's document contains what a maintenance contract is expected to: the parties with their registrations, the licence, scope, term, obligations, and an execution record behind every visit.
This article is a practical explainer, not legal advice. Refer to the regulation text and procedure guides published by the Ministry of Tourism.