1,900 Licensed Childcare Centres Operating Across Saudi Arabia
More than 60,000 children are enrolled in licensed centres supervised by the Ministry of Human Resources.
Saudi Arabia now has more than 1,900 licensed childcare centres serving over 60,000 children across the Kingdom’s 13 regions, according to the Ministry of Human Resources.
The ministry oversees the centres to ensure quality and safety standards, describing them as structured environments that provide care when parents are not present. Programmes offered at the centres aim to support children’s cognitive and social development, including speech clarity and emotional expression.
Services are delivered through several models. Independent childcare centres cater to children from birth to age 10, while workplace centres serve employees’ children. Mobile centres operate for children aged between one and 10, and home-based centres provide care for children from birth to six years old. Dedicated childcare services are also available in Makkah and Madinah to support pilgrims.
The ministry stated that the licensing process has been streamlined through online systems to facilitate approvals for operators. Financial support is provided through the Human Resources Development Fund, alongside consultations and specialised training workshops for centre operators and staff. Regulatory updates and enhanced oversight measures are also under way to improve service standards, clarify compliance requirements and strengthen safeguards for children’s development across the sector.
