The Council of Ministers

After reviewing the transaction received from the Royal Court under No. 21286 dated 3/5/1439 AH, which includes the telegram from His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning No. 1/3902108 dated 20/4/1439 AH, regarding the development authorities of regions and cities.

And after reviewing paragraph (2) of Article (24) of the Council of Ministers Law, issued by Royal Order No. (A/13) dated 3/3/1414 AH.

And after reviewing Royal Order No. (A/165) dated 10/6/1439 AH.

And after reviewing the memorandums No. (1142) dated 21/8/1439 AH, and No. (1203) dated 2/9/1439 AH, prepared by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers.

And after reviewing the recommendation of the General Committee of the Council of Ministers No. (4169) dated 6/9/1439 AH.

Decides the following:

• First:

  • 1- Approval of the statute for the development authorities of regions and cities, in the attached form.

  • 2- Approval of the financial regulation for the development authorities of regions and cities, and the administrative regulation for the development authorities of regions and cities, in the attached forms.

  • 3- A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture shall replace the representative of the National Water Company in the membership of the authority's council referred to in Article (Fifth) of the statute, in regions where the company has not yet exercised its competencies.

  • 4- Forming a technical committee in the Ministry of Civil Service with the participation of the Ministry of Finance and the concerned authority, to settle the status of current employees in the authorities covered by the provisions of the mentioned statute, in accordance with the provisions of the mentioned regulations.

  • 5- The authorities covered by the provisions of the mentioned statute shall review the statute and the mentioned financial and administrative regulations, and submit - when necessary - any proposals regarding them, within a period not exceeding one year from the date of application of the mentioned statute and regulations.

  • 6- The current councils of the development authorities of regions and cities shall continue until they are formed in accordance with what is stated in Article (Fifth) of the mentioned statute.

  • 7- The work issued regarding the executive committees of the councils of the development authorities of regions and cities shall continue until they are formed in accordance with what is stated in Article (Eighth) of the mentioned statute.

  • 8- Considering what is stated in paragraphs (6) and (7) of this clause, the current development authorities of regions and cities are granted a transitional period of (one year) from the date of issuance of this decision, and the council of each authority is authorized to gradually adapt its status in accordance with the provisions of the mentioned statute and regulations, without affecting the authority's performance of its tasks during that year.

• Second: Amending the name of the Al Madinah Development Authority to Al Madinah Region Development Authority, wherever it appears in laws, statutes, decrees, orders, decisions, regulations, and instructions.

• Third: Amending the name of the current development authorities of regions and cities by deleting the word "Supreme" wherever it appears in laws, statutes, decrees, orders, decisions, regulations, and instructions.

Prime Minister

The following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• 1- Authority:Any of the development authorities of regions and cities, covered by the provision of Article (2) of the Statute.

• 2- Statute:Statute of the Authority.

• 3- Council:Council of the Authority.

• 4- Committee:Executive Committee of the Authority.

• 5- Region:The geographical scope of work for each Authority according to its name.

The statute applies to the following authorities:

• 1- Makkah Region Development Authority.

• 2- Al Madinah Region Development Authority.

• 3- Deleted.

• 4- High Commission for the Development of Hail Region.

• 5- Shargia Development Authority.

• 6- Aseer Development Authority

• 7- Any authority established in the future, unless its establishing instrument states otherwise.

The authority enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Prime Minister.

The Authority aims - without prejudice to the competencies of other relevant bodies - to plan and comprehensively develop the region in the fields of urban, population, economic, developmental, social, cultural, environmental, transportation, basic infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. It also aims to provide the region's needs for public services and facilities. To achieve this, the Authority undertakes the following tasks and competencies:

• Formulating the general policies for the development and growth of the region.

• Preparing comprehensive strategic plans, studies, and schemes for the region and its executive programs, approving them, and updating them when necessary.

• Direct supervision of planning, designing, and implementing strategic programs and projects, and related operational and maintenance activities.

• Reviewing development plans, programs, and projects - related to the Authority's work - prepared by government agencies, public authorities, institutions, associations, and private institutions, ensuring balanced development in the region, and approving them.

• Following up on the planning of basic infrastructure projects in coordination with the relevant bodies.

• Prioritizing the implementation of programs and projects in the region in accordance with development plans.

• Monitoring the implementation of programs and projects in the region, taking necessary measures to ensure their execution, in coordination with the relevant bodies, and applying indicators to improve and measure urban performance efficiency in light of the approved development plans' objectives.

• Proposing the expropriation of some real estate for the development of the region, in coordination with the region's municipality and related bodies, in preparation for completing the statutory procedures regarding them.

• Supervising the rehabilitation of existing urban neighborhoods - including historical neighborhoods - improving them, addressing and developing informal neighborhoods, and enhancing them urbanistically, socially, economically, securely, and environmentally, and taking necessary measures to ensure this.

• Preparing building regulations and land use that contribute to implementing the region's development and growth plans, and approving them.

• Reviewing land subdivision plans and approving them.

• Establishing and managing an urban database and information systems, to serve as a unified platform and a primary reference for information relied upon by bodies related to the region's development and growth.

• Coordinating and organizing efforts among bodies related to the region's development and growth, according to approved studies and plans.

• Setting programs, foundations, necessary procedures, and incentive means for private sector participation in achieving development goals and implementing projects and services in the region, and supervising them.
  The Authority, in order to achieve its tasks and competencies, may seek assistance from necessary government bodies and others, including expert houses and specialized cadres, inside and outside the Kingdom.

The Council is the authority responsible for managing the affairs of the entity and conducting its matters, and within the limits of the statute, it may take the necessary decisions and procedures it deems appropriate to achieve its objectives, particularly the following:

• 1- Approving the general policies of the entity and its operational and executive plans and programs.

• 2- Proposing amendments to the statute and the entity's financial and administrative regulations.

• 3- Approving the organizational structure of the entity.

• 4- Approving the entity's budget project, final account, auditor's report, and annual report, in preparation for submission according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 5- Accepting donations, gifts, endowments, bequests, and grants, in accordance with the regulations governing this.

• 6- Appointing an accredited external auditor and an internal financial controller.

• 7- Approving the investment of the entity's funds in a manner that achieves its objectives, in accordance with the applicable laws and instructions.

• 8- Establishing companies or participating in their establishment or joining them to implement projects specified by the entity, in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.

• 9- Approving development plans, programs, and projects related to the work of the entity prepared by government agencies, public authorities, and associations and private institutions.

• 10- Approving comprehensive strategic plans and studies for the region and their executive programs, and updating them when necessary.

• 11- Approving building regulations and land use.

• 12- Approving land subdivision plans.

The Council may delegate some of its powers to its chairman or to the committee or to any of its members it deems appropriate.
The Council may also form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others, entrusting them with tasks it deems necessary. The decision to form each committee shall specify its chairman, members, and competencies.

1- The Council meetings are held at the Authority's headquarters, and may be held elsewhere within the region by a decision from the President of the Council.

2- The Council holds its meetings periodically four times a year, and the President of the Council may call for a meeting whenever necessary. The invitation to the meeting is issued in writing by the Chief Executive with the approval of the President of the Council, at least seven days before the meeting date, and the invitation must include the agenda. The meeting of the Council is not considered official unless attended by at least the majority of its members, including the President of the Council or his deputy, and decisions are made with the approval of the majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the side with which the President of the meeting voted prevails.

3- The Council may invite certain officials and experts to attend its meetings to provide information and clarifications, without having the right to vote.

4- The Authority communicates the Council's decisions to the relevant bodies after being signed by the President of the Council and the members present, taking into account the completion of the legal procedures for decisions that require it.

The Council shall have an Executive Committee, with a chairman appointed by order of the Prime Minister, and a sufficient number of members appointed by a decision of the Council from among its members and local and international experts based on a proposal from the chairman of the committee.

The committee holds its meetings periodically and not less than once a month.

The committee makes its decisions by a majority of the members, and in the event of a tie, the side with which the chairman of the committee voted prevails.

The committee is responsible for the following:

• A- Reviewing plans, studies, programs, projects, and schemes, in preparation for submission to the Council for approval.

• B- Reviewing the proposal to amend building regulations and land use in the area, in preparation for submission to the Council for approval.

• C- Reviewing the Authority's budget project, final account, auditor's report, and annual report, in preparation for submission to the Council for approval according to statutory procedures.

• D- Reviewing the organizational structure of the Authority, in preparation for submission to the Council for approval.

The committee may form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others, entrusted with tasks it deems necessary in the fields of the Authority's work. The decision to form each committee shall specify its chairman, members, and responsibilities.

The Authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer appointed and dismissed by a decision of the Council based on a proposal from the Committee, which specifies his salary and other financial and functional benefits. He shall be the executive responsible for managing the Authority's affairs, with responsibilities focused within the limits of the statute and regulations, and in particular, he shall exercise the following powers and responsibilities:

• 1- Supervising the Authority's personnel in accordance with the powers granted to him and as determined by the financial and administrative regulations.

• 2- Supervising the Authority's technical, administrative, and financial operations through the approved regulations and policies in accordance with the statute.

• 3- Following up on the implementation of decisions issued by the Council and the Committee.

• 4- Representing the Authority before the judiciary, government agencies, and institutions within the Kingdom, as well as related bodies outside the Kingdom.

• 5- Preparing the Authority's budget project, final account, auditor's report, and annual report, and presenting them to the Committee for review, in preparation for submission to the Council for approval.

• 6- Preparing reports on the implementation of the Authority's plans, programs, and studies, and presenting them to the Committee.

• 7- Supervising the preparation for Council meetings, preparing its agenda, and presenting it to the Committee for approval.

• 8- Supervising the preparation for Committee meetings, preparing its agenda, and approving it.

• 9- Appointing the Authority's personnel in accordance with the administrative and financial regulations.

• 10- Contracting with local and international experts and consultants.

• 11- Any other task assigned to him by the Council, its Chairman, or the Committee.

• 12- The Chief Executive Officer may delegate some of his powers to other personnel of the Authority.