Saudi Arabia tightens barber shop rules: health certificates for barbers, sterilised tools, permit for home haircuts

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has issued new rules for barber shops, and cutting hair at a customer's home now needs a specific permit, ARY News reported on 14 October.

Many Pakistanis in the Kingdom work in barber shops, so the change matters to families back home who depend on that income.

The rules for barbers

• Every barber must hold a valid health certificate.
• Personal hygiene and proper health practice before and during each service.

Tools and shops

• Reusable tools must be cleaned, disinfected and sterilised after every use.
• Single-use items (blades, neck strips) must be thrown away immediately after use.
• Shops must clean and sterilise equipment regularly and keep the service area clean.

Home service

Offering barbering outside a licensed shop "requires a specific permit". The reports so far do not say which office issues it or what it costs; check with the local municipality before taking home bookings.

Fines

The ministry did not publish penalty amounts. It said it will focus first on awareness and helping shops comply before imposing penalties, which suggests a grace period, but no end date has been given.

What Pakistani workers should do

1. Make sure your health certificate is current.
2. If you take home appointments, stop until you have the permit.
3. Ask your employer to confirm the shop meets the sterilisation rules.

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