Water & Home Services in Saudi Arabia: How to Connect

Connecting water and sewage to a new home is one of the first essential steps when you buy, build, or manage a property in Saudi Arabia. The process has become far more streamlined in recent years: requests are submitted through the official government channel on GOV.SA, fees are transparent, and the connection period has been shortened significantly. This سعودي ليفنج guide walks you through how the service works, what it costs, how long it takes, and what your rights are if there is a delay.

How the water and sewage connection works

For a new property, water and sewage connection is handled through the official government service on GOV.SA. When you apply, the service opens a dedicated account tied specifically to your property, connects the building to the local water and sewage network, and includes installation of the water meter. This single account is what your future billing and consumption records are attached to, so it is important to complete it correctly for the exact property.

Have your property documents ready before you start, and confirm the latest requirements on the official portal, since details can be updated over time.

Connection fees you should expect

Fees are set clearly for residential properties. For a residential building up to 675 m², the standard charges are:

• Water connection: SAR 3,000
• Sewage connection: SAR 5,000
• Each additional building unit: SAR 1,000, applied to both the water and sewage services

If a real-estate developer handles the meter side, there is a fee of SAR 1,000 for meter installation, data registration, or both. And where the developer has already pre-installed the connection link inside the property boundary during the development phase, the water-service connection is charged at SAR 1,000

Because fee schedules can change, always verify the current amounts on the official Saudi government portal before you pay.

How long it takes

The service has become notably faster. The maximum connection period is now 30 working days, cut down from the previous 60 working days, with an average completion time not exceeding 15 days. In practice, most standard residential connections are completed well within the maximum window once fees are paid and documents are in order.

Your rights if the connection is delayed

The rules include a clear safeguard if the service is slow to arrive. If your connection is not delivered within 25 days of paying the fees, you can request a water tanker at a reduced rate of SAR 4 per cubic meter per tanker until the service is actually connected. This reduced rate continues to apply for each additional 15-day period of delay, so you are not left without water while you wait.

Rules on service disconnection

Water is treated as an essential service, and there are set periods when disconnection is not allowed. Water service cannot be disconnected during:

• Ramadan
• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• National Day and Founding Day

In Makkah and Madinah, disconnection is also prohibited during the Hajj season (Dhul Hijjah 1–20). In addition, service cannot be cut off in cases where you have a pending billing complaint, so if you are disputing a charge, keep your complaint reference on record.

For developers and planned projects

If you are a real-estate developer working on approved plans or development projects, requests must go through the official channels, and a connection agreement must be signed before any network execution begins. The typical process is:

• Submit the request to the service provider
• Obtain approval
• Sign the connection agreement
• Provide the required documents, such as ID or commercial registration, title deed, and plan location files in KMZ/KML format

For development projects, water and sewage service requests, connection points, design plans, implementation requests, and handover requests are linked through the Ettimam platform, coordinated by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing together with the National Water Company.

A recent and welcome change allows developers to implement water and wastewater connection links during the development stages themselves. This reduces repeated excavation of roads and lowers overall cost — one reason the pre-installed connection option is priced differently.

Quick checklist before you apply

• Confirm the exact property details and size (m²) and number of units
• Gather your ID or commercial registration and title deed
• Prepare plan/location files in KMZ/KML for development projects
• Apply through the official GOV.SA service and confirm current fees
• Keep your payment receipt and note the 25-day mark in case you need a tanker at the reduced rate

For the latest fees, timelines, and requirements, always confirm through the relevant official Saudi government portal before proceeding.

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