The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has issued recommendations that tracks for walking, jogging and sports fields be included in the specifications for new residential districts and buildings.

The designs should also support institutions that promote a healthy lifestyle, such as healthy foodstuff and sports equipment companies by providing easy-to-reach commercial locations for their outlets.

The ministry issued the recommendations during its participation in the International Conference for Healthy Lifestyles and Non-Communicable Diseases in the Arab world and the Middle East. The Arab League, a number of Arab health ministers, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, the GCC General Secretariat and relevant ministries and government institutions in the Kingdom also took part in the conference.

The ministry recommended reducing support for institutions producing unhealthy products and a review of legislations and regulations concerning the issuance of licenses for such entities, including coffee and shisha shops.

The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour bin Metib recently issued directives to all mayoral offices stressing the need to implement standards of the Saudi Building Code at government institution buildings when issuing construction licenses, to ensure structural safety.

The Saudi Building Code’s National Committee has approached relevant public and private bodies to implement the code on an experimental basis for two years.

The bodies should file their observations and views every four months during that period.