1/1 Urban Boundary:

It is a policy for directing and regulating urban development by establishing appropriate boundaries for locating urban activities, accommodating urban growth over a specified period, and providing public services and utilities to achieve the highest level of economic efficiency for the available resources and reach the optimal size of cities and villages in accordance with the directions of the National Urban Strategy.

2/1 Urban Boundary Documents:

They are a set of technical reports, maps, and regulations that define the various stages of urban development and the Development Protection Area for the cities and villages of the Kingdom up to 1450 AH.

3/1 Urban Boundary Limits:

They are the lines shown on the maps of the Urban Boundary Documents that illustrate the various stages of urban development and the Development Protection Boundary, and represent the appropriate limits for locating urban activities and accommodating urban growth in cities and villages over a specified period.

4/1 Urban Development Stage up to 1435 AH:

It is the area available for urban development up to 1435 AH in accordance with the boundaries and regulations set out in the Urban Boundary Documents.

5/1 Urban Development Stage between 1435 AH and 1450 AH:

It is the area available for urban development between 1435 AH and 1450 AH in accordance with the boundaries and regulations set out in the Urban Boundary Documents.

6/1 Development Protection Area up to 1450 AH:

It is the area supporting development and located between the boundary of the urban development stages up to 1450 AH and the Development Protection Boundary, in accordance with the boundaries and regulations set out in the Urban Boundary Documents.

7/1 Development Protection Boundary:

They are the lines shown on the maps of the Urban Boundary Documents that define the Development Protection Area up to 1450 AH.

8/1 National and Regional Services:

They are services whose scope extends beyond the level of the city or village and are generally provided at the sub-regional level (governorate), regional level (region), or national level, as determined by the Implementing Regulation.

9/1 Public Utilities:

This refers to road, water, electricity, telephone, sewerage, and stormwater drainage networks.

10/1 Public Services:

This refers to religious, educational, health, security, and similar services that are not included within the statutory planning percentage.

11/1 Temporary Use:

This refers to the use of a site for a specified period, either due to the nature of the activity or in accordance with the programme of the beneficiary entity, as determined by the Implementing Regulation. The needs of future urban development may require the relocation of such uses to other alternative sites.

12/1 Activities of a Special Nature:

This refers to activities whose nature or services require them to be located at specified sites away from urban areas, as determined by the Implementing Regulation.

13/1 Developed Plans:

This refers to land subdivision plans for which, in addition to implementing all public utility networks, the minimum number of buildings in the plan must be constructed in accordance with the regulations governing the urban development stage in which they are located.

• The urban development controls are divided according to the classification of the Kingdom’s cities and villages under the National Urban Strategy approved by Council of Ministers Decision No. (127), dated 28/5/1421 AH, as follows:

  • A- National Growth Centers.
  • B- Regional Growth Centers.
  • C- Local Growth Centers.

• 1/2 Urban Development Phase up to 1435 AH:

• The planning of land located within this phase shall be permitted in accordance with the following controls:

  • A- National Growth Centers:

    • • Asphalt paving, surfacing, and street lighting.
    • • Extension of electricity, water, telephone, and sewage networks (sewage is excluded in the cities of Al-Majma'ah, Hawtat Bani Tamim, Wadi Al-Dawasir, and Al-Dawadmi).
    • • Stormwater drainage.

  • B- Regional Growth Centers:

    • • Asphalt paving, surfacing, and street lighting.
    • • Extension of the electricity network.
    • • Extension of the water network where network lines or a source exist.
    • • Implementation of sewage systems for the cities of Yanbu and Al-Kharj.

  • C- Local Growth Centers:

    • • Asphalt paving of streets.
    • • Extension of the electricity network.

  • D- Other cities and villages:

    • • Asphalt paving of streets.

• 2/2 Urban Development Phase between 1435 AH and 1450 AH:

• The planning of land located within this phase shall not be permitted before its scheduled time, except in accordance with the following controls:

  • A- National Growth Centers:

    • • Only developed plans with a construction rate of not less than (75%) for each plan in the cities of Riyadh, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah, Jeddah, and the Dammam Metropolitan Area, and a construction rate of not less than (50%) for each plan in the remaining centers, may be approved.

  • B- Regional Growth Centers:

  • • Only developed plans with a construction rate of not less than (25٪) for each plan may be approved.

  • C- Local Growth Centers:

    • • Asphalt paving, surfacing, and street lighting.

• Extension of the electricity network.

• Extension of the water network where a network or source exists.

  • D- Other cities and villages:

    • • Asphalt paving of streets.
    • • Extension of the electricity network.
    • • Extension of the water network where network lines or a source exist.