Article 5 of the Saudi Municipal Licensing Law

This article sets time limits and procedural safeguards for a person applying for a municipal license.

First, time to issue and refusal of the application (paragraph A):

• The Ministry issues the municipal license once all its procedures are complete, within a period not exceeding 10 working days from the date the application is submitted.
• If the application is refused, the refusal must be in writing and give reasons; an oral refusal, or a refusal without reasons, is not enough.
• The applicant is addressed at the address stated in the application, so the applicant should make sure the address entered is correct.

Second, preliminary approval (paragraph B):

• If the license requires the applicant to carry out certain obligations, the Ministry must issue preliminary approval whenever the conditions prescribed by law are met.
• The Ministry may not withdraw this approval unless the applicant has not carried out those obligations, which gives the applicant some assurance before spending money on carrying them out.
• The Implementing Regulations set out how to obtain preliminary approval and how long it lasts.

Knowing the written reason for a refusal helps the applicant understand their position and correct the application where possible. For an assessment of a particular case, a lawyer specializing in administrative matters and commercial licensing can be consulted.