The amendments were published in the official Umm Al-Qura Gazette on Friday, November 6, 2026, following approval by the Board of Directors of the Transport General Authority.

The changes address vehicle operating ages, mandatory technical inspections, operating card validity, and geographical restrictions affecting educational transport services.

The revised framework is intended to strengthen safety standards and improve regulatory oversight of school transport operations.

Under the newly published provisions, the standard maximum operating age for educational transport buses will be reduced from 12 years to 10 years, calculated from the year of manufacture.

However, the amendments do not automatically prohibit every bus older than ten years from continuing operations.

Instead, they establish a conditional extension mechanism for buses that hold valid operating cards and meet the relevant technical requirements.

Buses with a capacity exceeding 15 passengers may qualify to operate for up to 15 years from their manufacturing year.

For buses with a capacity of 15 passengers or fewer, the maximum permitted operating age under the extension mechanism will be 12 years.

Operators seeking an extension must ensure that their buses successfully pass mandatory periodic technical inspections every six months after exceeding the standard ten-year limit.

An operating card may not be issued or renewed for an extended-age bus unless it has passed the required inspection within the preceding six months.

These requirements are designed to maintain technical compliance throughout the additional operating period.

The amendments also introduce different operating card validity periods depending on the age and regulatory status of each vehicle.

Buses operating within the standard age limit may receive operating cards valid for one year, while those benefiting from an age extension will receive cards valid for six months.

In all cases, card validity must not exceed the earliest applicable expiration date among the operating license, vehicle age limit, registration, or technical inspection certificate.

Another important provision restricts buses operating under an age extension to the city in which their transport activity is licensed.

Other eligible buses remain subject to the rules permitting transport between the licensed city and an educational institution or residential destination in another city, followed by the return journey.

The regulations also address restricted licenses issued to operators for 60 days while they complete licensing requirements, without allowing commercial operations under those restricted licenses.

Applications to renew operating cards may be submitted up to 30 days before the current cards expire.

Importantly, the amendments will take effect 60 days after their publication in the official gazette, rather than immediately upon publication.

Educational transport operators are therefore advised to review the revised requirements and prepare their vehicles, inspection schedules, and operating documentation before the rules become applicable.

Source: Saudi Official Gazette (Umm Al-Qura), Saudi Transport General Authority, and Okaz newspaper.

Report date: November 7, 2026.