Article 4 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 4 من نظام البلديات والقرى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الجديد ومركزها ودرجتها وكل ما يتعلق بحقوقها والتزاماتها.
ب - يجوز فصل بلدية إلى بلديتين أو أكثر، بقرار من وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية وبناء على اقتراح مجلس المقاطعة ، ويحدد في القرار أسماء البلديات ومراكزها ودرجاتها وكل ما يتعلق بحقوقها والتزاماتها.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article deals with two cases of reorganizing municipalities:
First: Merger (paragraph a). Two or more municipalities may be merged into one municipality, on these conditions:
- A decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs must be issued.
- It must be based on a recommendation of the municipal councils concerned.
- And only after the approval of the Province Council.
The merger decision sets the name of the new municipality, its center, its grade and everything relating to its rights and obligations.
Second: Split (paragraph b). A municipality may be split into two or more municipalities, by decision of the Minister on the proposal of the Province Council. This paragraph does not require a recommendation of the municipal councils as the merger does. The split decision sets the names of the municipalities, their centers, their grades and everything relating to their rights and obligations.
The important practical point is that the decision itself shows what happens to rights and obligations; anyone with a right or obligation toward a municipality that has been merged or split should refer to the Minister's decision to learn which entity it passed to.
This article is linked to Article 3, which provides that a municipality's boundaries and the area under its authority are shown in a plan approved by the Minister on the proposal of the municipal council and with the approval of the Province Council.
Practical example
Two neighboring municipalities in the Qassim region grew together in development, and their municipal councils recommended a merger, which the Province Council approved. The Minister issues the merger decision setting the name of the new municipality, its center and its grade, and what relates to its rights and obligations, such as existing contracts with contractors.
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 4 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
Can two municipalities be merged?
Yes, by decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs on the recommendation of the municipal councils concerned and with the approval of the Province Council.
What does a municipality merger decision specify?
The name of the new municipality, its center, its grade and everything relating to its rights and obligations.
Is a municipal council recommendation required to split a municipality?
Paragraph (b) makes a split a decision of the Minister on the proposal of the Province Council, and does not mention a recommendation of the municipal councils.
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 2
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.
أ - يتم إنشاء البلديات وتسميتها، وتحديد وتعديل درجاتها وإلغاؤها بقرار من وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بناء على اقتراح مجلس المقاطعة، ويراعى في ذلك الظروف السكان
- 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 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.