Article 43 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 43 من نظام البلديات والقرى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للبلديات أن تعقد فيما بينها اتفاقات في الأمور المتعلقة بمصالحها المشتركة، وتخضع هذه الاتفاقات لموافقة وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية.
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 43 explained in plain English
This article allows cooperation between municipalities through agreements, with the following controls:
- Permission: concluding agreements is something municipalities may do, not a duty.
- Parties: two or more municipalities.
- Subject: matters relating to their common interests; these agreements are not made on a matter concerning only one municipality.
- Approval: the agreements are subject to the approval of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
An example of common interests that might lead municipalities to agree is facilities or services that extend beyond the boundaries of a single municipality. But the article gives no examples, and does not specify the form or term of an agreement.
By nature an agreement is cooperation between parties that remain in existence, so it is limited to the common interest for which it was concluded.
Before it comes Article 42, which makes the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs exercise the powers of the Province Council until it is formed under the Provinces Law. It is followed by Article 44, which allows the municipality, by order of its head, to carry out its orders at the expense of anyone who refuses to carry them out, within the limits of the law, without prejudice to any penalty resulting from the refusal.
Practical example
Two neighboring municipalities in the Asir region want to set up a shared waste treatment site serving their residents. Under this article they may conclude an agreement on this, because it is one of their common interests, subject to the Minister's approval.
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 43 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
May municipalities contract among themselves?
Yes. They may conclude agreements among themselves on matters relating to their common interests.
Do agreements between municipalities need approval?
Yes. They are subject to the approval of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
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 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.
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.