A wave of enforcement has swept through Riyadh’s neighborhoods as municipal authorities move to dismantle unauthorised room partitions in residential buildings. Owners found carving living units out of single-family homes or apartments without approval now face fines reaching up to $50,000, and in some cases, the forced removal of makeshift walls.
City inspectors—armed with new directives—have already visited dozens of properties, noting fire-safety violations, clogged access routes, and overburdened plumbing systems. One building manager lamented that the clever conversion of hallways into bedrooms had transformed the block into a honeycomb of cramped quarters, endangering tenants with narrow escape routes.
Officials say the crackdown is driven by concerns over structural integrity and public safety. “These ad-hoc partitions often lack proper ventilation and emergency exits,” a municipal spokesperson explained, “and they put lives at risk in the event of a fire or collapse.” Property owners are being given short windows to apply for retroactive permits or face demolition orders and financial penalties.
For residents who relied on cheaper, subdivided units, the sudden enforcement has stirred anxiety. Many now scramble for alternatives in an already tight rental market, while landlords weigh the cost of legalising conversions versus returning properties to their original layouts. As the city tightens its grip, Riyadh’s skyline may look largely the same—but behind closed doors, the walls are coming down.
