• The following words, wherever they occur, shall have the meanings indicated before each of them unless the context requires otherwise:

  • Ministry - Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
    Minister - Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
    Law - Law of Municipalities and Rural Areas issued by Royal Decree No. M/5 dated 21/2/1397 AH.
    Regulation - Implementing Regulation for the work of Municipal Councils.
    Municipality - The Secretariat, Municipality, or Village Complex.
    Council - Municipal Council.
    President - President of the Municipal Council.
    Members - Members of the Municipal Council.
    Member - Member of the Municipal Council.
    Trustee - Trustee of the Municipal Council.

• The authorities in the municipality are undertaken by both the Municipal Council and the Mayor as follows:

  • A. The Municipal Council exercises the authority of decision-making and supervision.
  • B. The Mayor exercises the authority of execution with the assistance of the municipal bodies and is responsible for its administration and the proper performance of its employees' duties in accordance with the regulations and instructions governing their work. The Mayor has the right to issue decisions and instructions related to municipal affairs provided they do not conflict with the regulations.

• A- The council consists of a number of members not less than four and not more than fourteen members, and the mayor shall be a member of the council among the appointed members.
• B- The number of members for each municipal council shall be determined by a decision of the Minister, and the number of council members may not be amended during its term.
• C- After the completion of the procedures for electing the members of the municipal councils, a ministerial decision shall be issued naming the elected and appointed members of the municipal councils.
• D- The term of the council shall be four years starting from the date of issuance of the decision naming its members.

The Minister is the administrative reference for the council.

• Without prejudice to the provisions of the applicable laws, the Council shall exercise the tasks and competencies stipulated in the Law, and in particular, it shall have the following:

  • A. The Council shall express its opinion and proposals regarding the draft budget at least ten days before the date of its discussion at the Ministry, and the Mayor shall submit the draft budget to the Council at least 45 days before that date.
  • B. The Council shall approve the municipality’s final account at least five days before the date of its submission to the competent authority, and the Mayor shall submit the final account to the Council at least one month before that date.
  • C. The Council shall express its opinion and proposals regarding the report on municipal revenues and expenditures submitted by the Mayor every six months.
  • D. The Council shall study the draft organizational structure of the municipality and express its views and proposals thereon, after which the municipality shall complete the statutory procedures.
  • E. The Council shall study the proposals submitted to it by the municipality regarding the amendment or preparation of regulations, bylaws, and requirements related to the municipality’s activities, express its views and proposals thereon, and the municipality shall submit them to the competent authority at the Ministry to complete the statutory procedures.
  • F. The Council shall propose urban projects within the scope of the municipality’s services and discuss them with the Mayor within the limits of the municipality’s powers and capabilities, and the municipality shall include the proposed projects in the municipality’s annual budget according to the priorities determined by the Council for all cities and villages within its service scope.
  • G. The Council shall submit its proposals regarding the imposition, amendment, or cancellation of fees and fines, provided that this does not conflict with the related laws and instructions, and the municipality shall submit them to the competent authority at the Ministry to complete the statutory procedures.
  • H. The Council shall study the report submitted by the Mayor on the municipality’s current investment projects and proposed investment projects, express its views, observations, and proposals thereon in accordance with the laws and instructions, and the municipality shall include what the Council approves within its investment plans.
  • I. The Council shall review the report submitted by the Mayor on projects related to property expropriated for public interest in light of the organizational plans and related laws and instructions, express its proposals thereon, and the municipality shall include those proposals within the draft budget for approval.
  • J. The Mayor shall submit a comprehensive report on the municipality’s activity every four months, and the Council shall study it and express its views and proposals thereon.
  • K. The Council may request the municipality to provide it with information and data related to the topics to be discussed in the sessions at least one week before the date of the session in which the topic will be discussed.
  • L. While observing its competencies, the Council shall study complaints, observations, and proposals received from citizens, and it may hold periodic meetings or workshops with them every four months.
  • M. The Council shall monitor the municipality’s performance and work to raise its efficiency and improve its service performance through reports submitted to it or requested by the Council.

The Council shall be headquartered in the municipality, and the municipality shall provide it with the necessary resources and equipment to perform its duties, using the allocated budget items designated for the Council within the municipality's budget. The municipality shall also facilitate the Council's utilization of the existing computer systems in the municipality.

• A. The Mayor shall issue an official invitation to the Council members to hold its first meeting at its designated headquarters within fifteen days from the date of issuance of the ministerial decision appointing its members, for the purpose of electing the Council President and his Deputy. The Mayor shall preside over the meeting and manage the session without having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
• B. The Council President and his Deputy shall be elected by open ballot or secret ballot as decided by the members in their session designated for that purpose, for a term of two years renewable. In the event of a tie between the candidates, the Minister's decision shall be decisive.
• C. After electing the President, the Deputy President shall be elected by the same mechanism used for electing the President.

• The President undertakes the following tasks:

  • A. Presiding over the Council sessions.
    B. Supervising all the Council's work.
    C. Issuing the decisions approved by the Council.
    D. Receiving correspondence addressed to the Council and the matters referred to it, and responding to them in light of the Council's actions thereon.
    E. Convening the Council.
    F. Any other tasks assigned to him by the Council within its jurisdiction or entrusted to him by the Minister.

The Vice President assists the President in his presence and assumes his duties and powers in his absence.

The Council shall have a secretariat within the organizational structure of the municipality, which is linked to the Chairman of the Council and consists of a number of employees who undertake administrative tasks, headed by the Secretary of the Council.