Article 29 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 29 من نظام البلديات والقرى
The article requires the head of the municipality, as head of its executive authority, to take the measures needed for it to perform its duties, including managing its funds, preparing and executing the budget and concluding contracts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على رئيس البلدية بصفته رئيسا لسلطتها التنفيذية اتخاذ جميع التدابير اللازمة لقيام البلدية بواجباتها وفق هذا النظام وغيره من الأنظمة واللوائح والقرارات، وخاصة ما يلي:
1 - إدارة واردات ومصروفات البلدية وأموالها ومراقبة حساباتها وصيانة حقوقها.
2 - إعداد تقرير شامل عن نشاط البلدية كل أربعة أشهر، وتقديمه إلى المجلس البلدي .
3 - إعداد مشروع ميزانية البلدية وبرنامج المشاريع المراد تنفيذها خلال السنة المالية القادمة وتقديمه إلى المجلس البلدي .
4 - تنفيذ الميزانية.
5 - إعداد الحساب الختامي للسنة المالية الماضية، وتقديمه إلى المجلس البلدي .
6 - إبرام العقود.
7 - مراقبة الأعمال التي تنفذ لحساب البلدية واستلامها.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article details the executive duties of the head of the municipality. As head of its executive authority, the head must take all the measures necessary for the municipality to perform its duties under this law and other laws, regulations and decisions, particularly:
- Managing money: managing the municipality's revenues, expenditures and funds, monitoring its accounts, and safeguarding its rights.
- Periodic report: preparing a comprehensive report on the municipality's activity every 4 months and submitting it to the municipal council.
- The budget: preparing the draft budget and the program of projects to be carried out in the coming fiscal year, and submitting it to the municipal council.
- Executing the budget.
- The final account: preparing it for the past fiscal year and submitting it to the municipal council.
- Concluding contracts.
- Monitoring the works carried out for the municipality and receiving them.
The article makes clear that the head of the municipality submits to the municipal council the periodic report, the draft budget and the final account, which enables the council to exercise oversight. This list is examples ('particularly'), not an exhaustive list of all of the head's duties.
Before it comes Article 28, which makes the head the first reference in the municipality's affairs and its representative before others, with the right to issue decisions so long as they do not conflict with the regulations. It is followed by Article 30, under which the Minister may specify the head's decisions that need the Minister's approval or that of a delegate.
A contractor or supplier contracting with the municipality deals, in concluding and receiving, with its head under this article. Anyone with a dispute over a municipal contract should consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
Practical example
A contracting company in Tabuk finished building a public park for the municipality. Under item (7), the head of the municipality monitors and receives these works, as the head was also the person competent to conclude the contract with it under item (6).
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 29 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
Who concludes the municipality's contracts?
Concluding contracts is one of the duties of the head of the municipality as head of its executive authority.
How often does the head of the municipality submit a report to the municipal council?
Every 4 months, a comprehensive report on the municipality's activity.
Who prepares the municipality's budget?
The head of the municipality prepares the draft budget and the program of projects for the coming fiscal year and submits it to the municipal council, and then executes the budget.
More articles on The Mayor and His Powers
- Article 6
The article distributes authority in the municipality between the municipal council, which exercises decision and oversight, and the head of the municipality, who exercises execution with the help of municipal bodies.
يتولى السلطات في البلدية : 1 - المجلس البلدي ، ويمارس سلطة التقرير والمراقبة. 2 - رئيس البلدية ، ويمارس سلطة التنفيذ بمعاونة أجهزة البلدية .
- Article 28
The head of the municipality is the first reference in its affairs and responsible for its management and employees, issues its decisions within the regulations, represents it before others and may delegate in writing.
رئيس البلدية هو المرجع الأول في أمور البلدية وهو المسئول عن إدارتها وحسن قيام موظفيها بواجباتهم وفق الأنظمة والتعليمات النافذة، وله الحق في إصدار القرارات والتع
- Article 30
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs specifies which decisions of the head of the municipality need the Minister's approval or that of a delegate.
يحدد وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية قرارات رئيس البلدية التي تحتاج إلى تصديقه أو تصديق من يفوضه.
- Article 31
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, in agreement with the Minister of Interior, specifies the municipalities that need a municipal police and its numbers; members are chosen from the internal security forces and report to the head of the municipality.
يحدد وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بالاتفاق مع وزير الداخلية، البلديات التي تحتاج إلى شرطة بلدية ، كما يحدد عدد أفرادها ورتبهم، ويتم اختيار شرطة البلدية من بين ر
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.