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Saudi Arabia Sets New Architectural Guidelines to Preserve Heritage in Urban Development

Construction and Interior Design

Business Honor
28 March, 2025

Integrating traditional styles with modern design to enhance cities and cultural identity.

Saudi Arabia has come up with new design regulations to make modern urban projects mirror the country's unique architectural tradition. Led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the move aims to incorporate local design elements in modern construction while maintaining the unique architectural styles of the country.

The government has introduced an online platform explaining the objectives of the initiative, such as the Saudi Architecture Characters Map. This map depicts 19 regional architectural styles and offers information about their natural environments, indigenous architecture, and ancient forms of construction. Some of the major styles included are northern Najdi, Tabuk coastal, Hijazi coastal, and the Sarawat Mountains, among others.

To actualize these directives, the government will initially implement them in government buildings and commercial buildings in Al-Ahsa, Taif, Makkah, and Abha. Ultimately, compliance with the guidelines will be required for construction permit issuance. The goal is to develop consistent urban settings that reconcile heritage with modernity, with new developments complementing their environments.

The project is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy through the development of tourism and infrastructure. Through the improvement of the look of cities, the government believes that it can increase the number of visitors, hence driving the hospitality and construction industries. The project also supports green building as it uses traditional materials and construction methods appropriate for local weather conditions.

While it has economic and cultural ambitions, Saudi Arabia's building frenzy has been criticized for human rights violations in migrant labor conditions. Colossal projects like Neom's The Line have faced criticism for forced evictions and hazardous conditions. Nonetheless, the latest wave of architecture shows Saudi Arabia is determined to create a contemporary urban landscape without discarding its remarkable built heritage.