Water & Home Services in Saudi Arabia: How to Connect

Connecting water and wastewater services is one of the first practical steps when you move into a new home or complete a new build in Saudi Arabia. The good news is that the process is standardized, largely digital, and backed by clear customer rights on fees and timelines. This Saudi Living guide walks you through who provides the service, how to apply, what you'll pay, how long it takes, and the protections you're entitled to as a resident.

Who provides water and sewage services

Urban water supply and wastewater (sewage) services across the Kingdom are provided by the National Water Company (NWC). The wider sector — including standards, timelines, and customer rights — is regulated by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA). For standard household connections, you don't need to go through Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Najiz, Nafath, or Tawakkalna; the request runs through the water utility's own channels.

How to request a new connection

A new water or sewage connection is requested through NWC's electronic portal, or through the unified government services platform MyGov.sa using the service titled "Request for water and sewage connection."

• Have your property details ready (plot area, location, and ownership documents).
• Submit the connection request through the online service.
• Pay the applicable connection fee once your request is approved.
• Track the installation and meter setup until the service is activated.

Because portal steps and document requirements can be updated, always confirm the exact process on the official water utility portal or MyGov.sa before you begin.

Residential connection fees

For individual (residential) consumers, fees are based on the built or serviced area of the property:

• Buildings up to 675 m²: SAR 3,000 for water connection and SAR 5,000 for sewage connection.
• Areas above 675 m²: fees increase progressively across area bands.
• Areas above 3,000 m²: the actual implementation cost is charged instead of a fixed flat fee.
• Additional residential unit on the same plot (e.g., an extra apartment or villa): SAR 1,000 applied to both water and sewage.
• Developer meter fee: SAR 1,000 per meter when a real estate developer installs the meter and/or registers data in advance within the property boundary during development.

Non-residential and government fees

For commercial, industrial, and government properties, the starting fees are higher and scale with building size:

• Non-residential (commercial/industrial) smaller properties: starting from SAR 15,000 for water and SAR 20,000 for sewage, increasing incrementally with building size; implementation costs are added for larger sites.
• Government sector: starting from SAR 15,000 for water and SAR 20,000 for sewage, adjusted by building area; large-scale projects are charged at actual cost with no extra per-unit fees.

Timelines and your rights

Recent updates to the regulator's guide strengthened customer protections around delivery times:

• A new water or sewage connection must be provided within a maximum of 30 working days (reduced from 60), with an average target not exceeding 15 working days.
• Service providers must resolve customer complaints within 10 working days; unresolved complaints are escalated to SWA, which handles them within a maximum of 5 working days.
• If the service isn't delivered within 25 days of paying the fee, you have the right to request a water tanker at a reduced rate of SAR 4 per m³. This reduced rate continues for every additional 15-day delay until the service is connected.

When your water cannot be disconnected

The rules include clear protections against service disconnection during key periods, for all customer categories:

• No disconnection during Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Saudi National Day, and Founding Day.
• In Makkah and Madinah, no disconnection during the Hajj season from 1 to 20 Dhul Hijjah.

Practical tips before you apply

• Confirm your property's serviced area — it directly determines your fee band.
• If you bought from a developer, check whether meters were already installed and registered, so you don't pay twice.
• Keep proof of your fee payment; it's the reference point for the 25-day tanker right.
• If a complaint stalls, note the escalation path to SWA and the 5-working-day handling window.

With a clear understanding of the fees, timelines, and rights above, getting your home connected should be a smooth, predictable process. Always verify the latest figures and steps on the official water utility portal or MyGov.sa before you submit your request.

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