Saudi Arabia has officially launched its first rest and waiting area specifically designed for app delivery drivers. This initiative aims to enhance working conditions in one of the kingdom’s fastest-growing sectors.

The facility, located in Al Khobar governorate within the Eastern Province, is part of a broader effort to improve the urban landscape. Eng. Abdulaziz Al Rumaih, the Head of the Building Permits Department at Al Khobar Municipality, explained that the concept for the facility arose due to observed issues with delivery drivers parking haphazardly.

These parking issues included motorbikes being left in undesignated areas, such as spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities or on sidewalks, and drivers sitting in streets exposed to the elements. Al Rumaih noted that this situation prompted the municipality to create an organized model to better serve this vital sector.

The newly established rest area is designed with aesthetic and architectural considerations, providing a comfortable environment equipped with air conditioning, seating, proper lighting, and direct technical connectivity to restaurants and shops. Al Rumaih highlighted that this facility serves as a model that will be replicated in shopping malls and major centers according to specific controls and standards.

Looking ahead, he predicted that up to 100 additional licenses would be issued in the near future to further regulate the thriving delivery sector. The importance of this sector is underscored by recent data from Saudi transport authorities, which indicated that order delivery service providers in the kingdom achieved a significant milestone last year with over 290 million orders.

Riyadh, in particular, accounted for the majority of these deliveries, experiencing a remarkable growth rate of 45.3%, according to the Transport General Authority (TGA). The Mecca region followed with a 22.7% growth in delivery activity, while the Eastern Province saw a growth of 15%. Medina, located in western Saudi Arabia, recorded a more modest growth of 4.3%. Official figures reveal that more than 200 million delivery operations were conducted in the kingdom in 2023.