Article 30 of the Saudi Municipalities Law

المادة 30 من نظام البلديات والقرى

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.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يحدد وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية قرارات رئيس البلدية التي تحتاج إلى تصديقه أو تصديق من يفوضه.

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 30 explained in plain English

This article sets the Minister's oversight of the decisions of the head of the municipality:

Who specifies? The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
What is specified? The decisions of the head of the municipality that need approval.
Who approves? The Minister personally, or a delegate.

This means not all decisions of the head of the municipality are subject to approval, only those the Minister specifies. The article itself does not list these decisions or the criteria for selecting them, but leaves that to the Minister's specification.

This article comes after Article 29, which lists the duties of the head of the municipality as head of its executive authority, including managing the municipality's revenues, expenditures and funds, preparing and executing the draft budget, preparing the final account, concluding contracts, and monitoring and receiving works. The head exercises these powers, but decisions the Minister specifies among them need approval.

It is followed by Article 31, which regulates the municipal police: the Minister, in agreement with the Minister of Interior, specifies the municipalities that need them and the number and ranks of their members, who are chosen from the internal security forces and, while attached to the municipality, are under the command of its head.

Anyone affected by a decision of the head of the municipality who wants to know whether it is in force or awaiting approval should check this or consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.

Practical example

The head of a municipality in Unaizah governorate issued a decision of a type the Minister has specified among those needing the Minister's approval. Under this article, the decision is not complete without the approval of the Minister or a delegate.

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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