Article 2 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 2 من نظام البلديات والقرى
The article provides that municipalities are established, named, graded and abolished by decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs on the Province Council's proposal, with a temporary committee when one is established.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - يتم إنشاء البلديات وتسميتها، وتحديد وتعديل درجاتها وإلغاؤها بقرار من وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بناء على اقتراح مجلس المقاطعة، ويراعى في ذلك الظروف السكانية والاجتماعية والعمرانية والاقصادية وغيرها.
ب - يعين وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية - للبلدية - عند إنشائها لجنة تمارس الاختصاصات والصلاحيات المخولة للمجلس البلدي والمنصوص عليها في هذا النظام لمدة سنتين، يجرى قبل انتهائها تشكيل مجلس بلدي وفق أحكام هذا النظام، ويجوز لوزير الشئون البلدية والقروية في حالة تعذر ذلك تمديد هذه المدة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 2 explained in plain English
This article regulates the birth of a municipality and what follows, in two paragraphs:
Paragraph (a): Establishment, naming, grading and abolition. All of these are done by decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, on condition that it is on the proposal of the Province Council. The decision must take account of population, social, urban, economic and other circumstances, so establishing a municipality or setting its grade is not a formality but is tied to the reality of the area.
Paragraph (b): The transitional stage. When a new municipality is established it does not yet have a municipal council, so:
- The Minister appoints a committee that exercises the competences and powers given to the municipal council in the law.
- The committee's term is two years.
- Before the two years end, a municipal council must be formed in accordance with the law.
- If that is not possible, the Minister may extend the term.
Article 1 explains that once established, a municipality is a legal person with financial and administrative independence, and Article 3 moves on to a later step: the Minister's approval of a plan showing the municipality's boundaries and the area under its authority, on the proposal of the municipal council and with the approval of the Province Council.
The article does not state the number of grades or their detailed criteria, nor the length of the extension; the text does not specify these matters.
Practical example
A large village in the Jazan region grew in population and development, and the Province Council proposed establishing a municipality for it. Under this article, the establishment decision is issued by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, who appoints a committee to exercise the powers of the municipal council for two years until its municipal council is formed.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 2 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
Who issues the decision to establish a municipality?
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, on the proposal of the Province Council, taking into account population, social, urban, economic and other circumstances.
Who runs a new municipality before its municipal council is formed?
A committee appointed by the Minister that exercises the powers of the municipal council for two years; the Minister may extend it if the council cannot be formed.
Can a municipality be abolished?
Yes. Abolition is among the matters done by decision of the Minister on the proposal of the Province Council.
More articles on Establishing Municipalities and Their Boundaries
- Article 1
The article provides that a municipality is a legal person with financial and administrative independence, exercising the functions assigned to it under the Municipalities and Villages Law and its Implementing Regulations.
البلدية شخصية اعتبارية ذات استقلال مالي وإداري، تمارس الوظائف الموكولة إليها بموجب هذا النظام ولوائحه التنفيذية.
- Article 3
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs approves a plan showing the municipality's boundaries and the area under its authority, on the municipal council's proposal and with the Province Council's approval.
يعتمد وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بناء على اقتراح المجلس البلدي وموافقة مجلس المقاطعة مخططا يبين حدود البلدية والمنطقة الخاضعة لسلطتها.
- Article 4
The article allows two or more municipalities to be merged, or one municipality split into several, by decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs setting names, centers, grades, rights and obligations.
أ - يجوز ضم بلديتين أو أكثر، بقرار من وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بناء على توصية من المجالس البلدية المعنية وموافقة مجلس المقاطعة ، ويحدد في القرار اسم البلدية
- Article 42
The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs exercise the powers the law gives the Province Council until that council is formed under the Provinces Law.
يمارس وزير الداخلية ووزير الشئون البلدية والقروية الصلاحيات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام لمجلس المقاطعة ، إلى أن يتم تشكيله وفقا لنظام المقاطعات.
- Article 43
Municipalities may conclude agreements among themselves on matters relating to their common interests, subject to the approval of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
يجوز للبلديات أن تعقد فيما بينها اتفاقات في الأمور المتعلقة بمصالحها المشتركة، وتخضع هذه الاتفاقات لموافقة وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.