Article 42 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 42 من نظام البلديات والقرى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يمارس وزير الداخلية ووزير الشئون البلدية والقروية الصلاحيات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام لمجلس المقاطعة ، إلى أن يتم تشكيله وفقا لنظام المقاطعات.
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 42 explained in plain English
This article is a transitional provision, dealing with a temporary situation:
- The problem: the Municipalities and Villages Law gives the Province Council certain powers, but this council may not yet be formed.
- The solution: the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs exercise these powers.
- Duration: until the Province Council is formed under the Provinces Law.
The aim is that procedures in which the law requires a role for the Province Council are not held up because it does not exist. The text names the two Ministers together in exercising these powers, and does not explain how they are divided between them.
This provision is temporary by nature, as it ends when the Province Council is formed under the Provinces Law. This article does not say whether the council has been formed or not, or when.
Before it comes Article 41, which refers determining village services, developing them and organizing their administration to a regulation issued by the Council of Ministers. It is followed by Article 43, which allows municipalities to conclude agreements among themselves on matters relating to their common interests, subject to the approval of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
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 42 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
Who exercises the powers of the Province Council if it is not formed?
The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, until it is formed under the Provinces Law.
Is this provision permanent?
No. It is temporary until the Province Council is formed under the Provinces Law.
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 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 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.