Saudi Arabia Bans Neighbourhood Grocery Stores From Selling A Few Items & These Are…

For those who aren’t aware, Baqalas are corner store-style supermarkets. And now, according to a report by the Saudi Gazette, they are banned from selling certain items, including tobacco and fruits. These come under the new regulations that have been issued by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, Majed Al-Hogail. Here’s all you need to know about the development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Baqalas No Longer Allowed to Sell Certain Items

Your neighbourhood baqala will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco, meat, fruit, dates, and vegetables. This decision takes place immediately, but the report does mention that the existing stores will be given time to correct themselves. However, this will be for no longer than six months from now. As per the new regulation, kiosks and grocery stores, or even mini markets, can no longer sell these items.

The Decision Is A Part Of The Rule Change

The ban on the sale of tobacco products also extends to electronic cigarettes, regular cigarettes, and shisha. These products can, however, be sold in a supply store AKA Supermarkets. They can also sell meat; however, they do require a separate license. This amendment of the regulation mentions how these products can only be sold in hypermarkets. Not to mention, the amendment also allows the sale of chargers, cables, and prepaid recharge cards in grocery stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets.

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Demarcation Of Space Between Different Types Of Stores

With the new regulation in place, it’s worth mentioning that the minimum floor space for a grocery store is 24 m². However, the minimum floor space for a supermarket is 100 m². In the same breath, the minimum floor space for a hypermarket is 500 m². Basically, to surmise, you can find all of these products at your nearest supermarket. However, they will no longer be available at the baqala stores.

So, the next time you visit the supermarket, make sure to keep your list handy. After all, if you forget an item or two, chances are they might not be available at your neighbourhood baqala!

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