CMA CMA InternationalAayan Technical Co. Ltd · Jeddah
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Saudi approvals · guide

How to read a mall tenant fit-out manual.

A mall tenant fit-out manual is the landlord's rule book for building inside the mall. It sets design criteria, approval stages, MEP connection rules, deposits, insurance and site rules. Every Saudi mall writes its own. Read it before you price, because half the cost and time risk of a mall fit-out sits in it.

01Mall fit-out manuals

The sections that change your price.

Design criteria

Shopfront height, bulkhead and signage zones, ceiling heights and banned materials.

Submission stages

Concept, detailed design and MEP submissions, and how long each review takes.

MEP rules

Power and cooling allowances, tie-in points and any landlord-nominated trades.

Money

Fit-out deposit, review fees, utility charges during works and any fines.

Insurance and registration

Contractor all-risk and third-party cover, and contractor registration with mall management.

Site rules

Working hours, night shifts, hoarding, deliveries, waste and hot-work permits.

02Process

The steps,
in order.

  1. Get the manual before the concept

    Ask the leasing team for the latest version. Old versions cause redesign.

  2. List every nominated trade

    Sprinkler, fire alarm or tie-in contractors named by the landlord change both cost and programme.

  3. Price the conditions

    Deposits, fees, night working and insurance belong in the bid, not in a later claim.

  4. Program the reviews

    Put each landlord review on the programme with its own duration.

  5. Plan the handover

    Know the landlord's final inspection steps and documents before you start.

03Questions

Mall fit-out manuals.
Straight answers.

Is every mall fit-out manual in Saudi Arabia the same?

No. Each landlord writes its own, and even malls under one owner can differ. Read the one for your mall.

What is a landlord-nominated contractor?

A contractor the landlord requires for specific work, often sprinklers, fire alarm or tie-ins to base-building systems. Their cost and timing go into your bid.

Why does the fit-out deposit matter?

Landlords hold it against damage and rule breaches. Delays in getting it back affect your cash flow, so plan the close-out.

Does landlord approval replace Civil Defense or Balady?

No. Landlord approval is a lease requirement. Civil Defense and municipal approvals are separate.

Can you review a manual before we sign the lease?

Yes. Send it to WhatsApp 00966 540521413 and we will point out the clauses that drive cost and time.

Send the drawings.
We will send a date.

Unit area, mall or building, target handover date, fit-out manual. That is enough to price it.

Aayan Technical Company Limited · 6933 Al Aliyah, Al Rehab, Jeddah 23343, Saudi Arabia · Saudi Commercial Registration

04Related

General guidance from a fit-out contractor, checked 8 October 2026. Rules change. Always confirm the current requirement with the authority or platform named above before you design or apply.