• The following terms - wherever mentioned in this statute - shall have the meanings indicated in front of each:

  • Organization: Saudi Irrigation Organization.

  • Statute:Statute of the Organization.

  • Minister:Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

  • Council:Board of Directors of the Organization.

  • President:President of the Council.

The institution enjoys public legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Minister. Its main headquarters is in Al-Ahsa Governorate, and it may establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.

The institution aims to regulate the activities and services related to irrigation activities, dam activities, and the reuse of treated water activities in the Kingdom, as well as to monitor, operate, and develop these activities.

• The institution is responsible for managing the irrigation activity, dam activity, and the activity of reusing treated water in the Kingdom, as well as operating and developing them. It has the authority - without prejudice to the competencies of other government entities - to do whatever is necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:

  • 1- Establishing policies, strategies, plans, and programs related to its competencies, reviewing, evaluating, and supervising their implementation, and submitting what requires completion of legal procedures.

    2- Providing irrigation and agricultural drainage services, including the transportation, distribution, and sale of treated water for all its uses: (agricultural, industrial, urban), designing, constructing, developing, operating, and maintaining dams.

    3- Establishing irrigation scheduling programs for agricultural crops according to water allocations.

    4- Treating agricultural wastewater and utilizing it.

    5- Developing and implementing emergency and crisis plans for its activities and addressing water shortages, in coordination with relevant entities, and in accordance with related legal procedures.

    6- Proposing projects for systems and regulations related to its competencies, proposing amendments to existing ones, and submitting them according to legal procedures.

    7- Establishing standards related to its competencies, and submitting what requires according to legal procedures.

    8- Applying water quality standards used in its activities, monitoring the quality level and quality of agricultural soil, and supporting environmental reform.

    9- Designing, constructing, developing, operating, and maintaining water supply sources for its activities in coordination with relevant entities.

    10- Designing, constructing, developing, operating, and maintaining pumping stations, infrastructure works for the institution's activity projects, and agricultural drainage systems.

    11- Developing approved technologies to monitor the consumption of irrigation water, dams, and treated water, ensuring compliance with water allocation and usage programs, and taking appropriate measures to address non-compliance cases according to related systems, regulations, and procedures.

    12- Conducting studies and research related to its competencies in collaboration with universities, institutes, and specialized entities.

    13- Adopting modern technologies to rationalize the use of irrigation water, dam water, and treated water.

    14- Representing the Kingdom, or participating in its representation, in local, regional, and international organizations and institutions related to its competencies, according to legal procedures.

    15- Holding work sessions, seminars, conferences, and exhibitions, and participating in them.

    16- Coordinating with relevant entities to provide programs and courses in fields related to its competencies, and qualifying human resources working in these fields.

    17- Providing a database and statistical information about its activities.

    18- Investing in a way that achieves its objectives, according to legal procedures.

    19- Determining the financial compensation for the sale of treated water, services, works, and products provided by the institution, according to related legal provisions.

    20- Licensing the practice of activities related to the institution's competencies, according to what is stipulated by related systems and regulations.

    21- Enhancing revenues and achieving returns on investment in the institution's assets from within the institution or in partnership with external entities, according to related legal provisions.

    22- Working on utilizing available sources of irrigation water, dam water, and traditional and non-traditional treated water.

• 1- The institution shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister and membership of each of the following:

  • A- A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

    B- A representative from the Ministry of Finance.

    C- A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

    D- A representative from the Agricultural Development Fund.

    E- The Chief Executive Officer of the institution.

    F- The Chief Executive Officer of the National Water Company.

    G- Two experts and specialists in the field of the institution's work, appointed by an order from the President of the Council of Ministers based on a nomination from the President of the Council.

• 2- Except for the president and the two members referred to in subparagraphs (E) and (F) of paragraph (1) of this article, the term of membership on the board shall be (three) years, renewable for a similar period and only once.

  3- The rank of representatives of government entities must not be less than the (fourteenth) rank, or its equivalent.

  4- The president shall choose a deputy from among the representatives of government entities, except for the Chief Executive Officer of the institution.

• The Council is the dominant authority over the affairs of the institution, supervising its management and the conduct of its affairs, and making all necessary decisions to achieve its purposes within the limits of the provisions of the statute, and in particular, it has the following:

  • 1- Supervising the execution of the tasks assigned to the institution.

    2- Approving the policies and strategies related to the institution's competencies, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting what requires completion of statutory procedures.

    3- Proposing draft laws and regulations related to the institution's competencies, proposing amendments to existing ones, and submitting what is required according to statutory procedures.

    4- Approving the standards related to the institution's competencies, and submitting what is required according to statutory procedures.

    5- Reviewing periodic reports submitted to it on the progress of work in the institution.

    6- Approving the organizational structure and guide of the institution.

    7- Approving the financial and administrative regulations that the institution follows, and other internal regulations necessary for conducting its affairs. The approval of financial regulations and provisions with financial impact in other regulations shall be in agreement with the Ministry of Finance, and the approval of administrative regulations shall be in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

    8- Approving the rewards and benefits of experts with the required competencies whom the institution seeks assistance from, according to the relevant statutory provisions.

    9- Determining the financial compensation for services, works, products, and licenses provided by the institution.

    10- Approving the institution's budget project, final account, auditor's report, and annual report, in preparation for submission according to statutory procedures.

    11- Approving the institution's investment policies to achieve its objectives, according to the relevant statutory provisions.

    12- Accepting wills, donations, endowment revenues, and grants offered to the institution, according to the regulations governing that.

    13- Approving the conclusion of agreements, memorandums of understanding, and contracts, according to statutory procedures.

    14- Appointing an external auditor and an internal financial controller.

    15- Appointing a Secretary-General for the Council.

    The Council may form permanent or temporary committees, from its members or others, to be entrusted with tasks it deems necessary, and the decision to form each committee shall specify its chairman, members, and competencies, and it may seek the assistance of whomever it deems necessary to perform the tasks assigned to it.

    The Council may delegate some of its competencies - except for the competencies mentioned in paragraphs (2), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10), (11), and (14) of this article - to whomever it deems appropriate from the officials in the institution.

• 1- The Council meetings are held at the institution's headquarters or any other place in the Kingdom, chaired by the President or his delegate from the Council members representing government entities, except for the institution's CEO.

  2- The Council holds its meetings periodically, not less than (two meetings) per year. The President may call for a meeting whenever necessary, or upon the request of at least (one-third) of the Council members. The invitation to the meeting is issued by the President, or his delegate, in writing at least (seven) days before the meeting, and the invitation must include the meeting agenda and location.

  3- The Council meeting is valid if attended by at least the majority of its members, including the President or his delegate. Decisions are made by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side with which the President of the meeting voted prevails.

  4- The Council may, when necessary and as deemed by the President, hold meetings and vote on recommendations and decisions remotely using technological means. Recommendations and decisions can be made by circulating them among the members, and they are signed to indicate that all members have reviewed them. Recommendations and decisions made by these two methods are not valid unless circulated to all Council members, voted on, and receive at least a majority of their votes.

  5- The Council may invite anyone it deems appropriate to attend its meetings to provide information, opinions, or clarifications without having the right to vote.

  6- A member may not abstain from voting or delegate another member to vote on his behalf in his absence. A dissenting member must record his objection and reasons in the meeting minutes.

  7- The Council's deliberations, recommendations, and decisions are recorded in minutes signed by the meeting's President and the attending members.

  8- A member may not disclose any of the institution's secrets that he has become aware of due to his membership in the Council.

  9- The Secretary-General of the Council is responsible for preparing the agendas, meeting minutes, recommendations, and decisions.

• The institution shall have a Chief Executive Officer appointed and dismissed by a decision of the Council, who shall be responsible for managing the institution, and his responsibilities shall be concentrated within the limits stipulated by the statute and as decided by the Council, and he shall directly undertake the following functions:

  • 1- Proposing policies and strategies related to the institution's functions, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting them to the Council for consideration and approval.

    2- Supervising the workflow in the institution through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.

    3- Proposing the institution's structure and organizational guide, the financial and administrative regulations that the institution follows, and other internal regulations necessary for managing its affairs, and submitting them to the Council for consideration and approval.

    4- Implementing the decisions issued by the Council.

    5- Supervising the preparation of the institution's annual budget project, its final account project, and the annual report, and submitting them to the Council for consideration and approval.

    6- Appointing the institution's employees according to the powers granted to him, and supervising them.

    7- Disbursing from the institution's approved budget, and taking all financial procedures according to the approved laws and regulations and the powers delegated to him by the Council.

    8- Preparing reports on the implementation of the institution's plans, programs, and achievements, and presenting them to the Council.

    9- Signing agreements, memorandums of understanding, and contracts, according to the relevant legal procedures.

    10- Contracting for the execution of works, services, and tasks assigned to the institution whenever needed, and other works and services, according to the laws and powers delegated to him by the Council.

    11- Organizing the institution's participation in regional and international conferences, events, festivals, and exhibitions, according to legal procedures.

    12- Issuing the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of the statute and the regulations issued based on it, and the approved rules and procedures, according to the powers granted to him.

    13- Representing the institution before the judiciary, government agencies, and other related institutions and bodies, and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others to do so.

    14- Proposing rewards and benefits for experts with the required competencies whom the institution seeks assistance from, and submitting that to the Council for consideration and approval.

    15- Any other function assigned to him by the Council.

    The president may delegate some of his functions to whomever he deems appropriate from the institution's staff.

• The financial resources of the institution consist of the following:

  • 1- What is allocated to it in the state's general budget.

    2- The financial compensation it receives in return for the services, works, products, and licenses it provides.

    3- Returns on its investments.

    4- What the council accepts in terms of gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowment revenues, in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.

    5- Any other resources approved by the council that do not violate laws and regulations.