Article 6 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
المادة 6 من نظام البلديات والقرى
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتولى السلطات في البلدية :
1 - المجلس البلدي ، ويمارس سلطة التقرير والمراقبة.
2 - رئيس البلدية ، ويمارس سلطة التنفيذ بمعاونة أجهزة البلدية .
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 6 explained in plain English
This article shows who holds the decision and who carries it out inside the municipality, distributing authority between two bodies:
- The municipal council: exercises the power of decision and oversight; that is, it takes decisions in the matters the law authorizes it to decide, and oversees the performance of the executive body.
- The head of the municipality: exercises the power of execution, and uses the municipality's bodies to help.
This distribution resembles a separation between a body that decides and oversees, and a body that executes. Its benefit is that the council does not take on daily execution itself, and the head of the municipality does not decide alone on matters the law gives to the council.
This article comes after Article 5, which lists the municipality's competences, such as organizing the town, licensing buildings and premises, monitoring markets, cleanliness and expropriation for the public benefit. The municipality exercises these competences through the two bodies mentioned here. It is followed by Article 7, which makes the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs the administrative reference of the municipality and authorizes the Minister to specify which municipal council decisions are subject to the Minister's approval or that of a delegate; that is, the council's power of decision may need the Minister's approval for some decisions.
This article itself does not detail the list of council decisions or the powers of the head of the municipality; it sets the general framework for the distribution of authority.
Practical example
In a municipality in Al-Ahsa governorate, the municipal council sees the need to build a public park in a new neighborhood and takes its decision within its powers. The head of the municipality, with the help of its bodies, handles putting out the project and following its execution, and the council keeps the right to oversee the execution.
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 6 of the Saudi Municipalities Law
What is the difference between the municipal council and the head of the municipality?
The municipal council exercises the power of decision and oversight, and the head of the municipality exercises the power of execution with the help of the municipality's bodies.
Are municipal council decisions always final?
Article 7 authorizes the Minister to specify which municipal council decisions are subject to the Minister's approval or that of a delegate.
More articles on Formation of the Municipal Council
- Article 8
The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs sets by decision the number of municipal council members in each municipality, between 4 and 14, and the head of the municipality is among them.
يحدد وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية بقرار منه عدد أعضاء المجلس البلدي في كل بلدية، على أن لا يقل عن أربعة ولا يزيد على أربعة عشر عضوا، ويكون من بينهم رئيس البلدية
- Article 9
Half of the municipal council members are chosen by election, and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs chooses the other half from those with competence and eligibility.
يتم اختيار نصف الأعضاء بالانتخاب، ويختار وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية النصف الآخر من ذوي الكفاءة والأهلية.
- Article 10
The municipal council chooses its chairman and deputy from among its members for two years, renewable, and the Minister's decision tips the balance when votes are tied between candidates.
يختار المجلس البلدي رئيسه ونائبه من بين أعضائه بصفة دورية لمدة سنتين قابلة للتجديد، وإذا تساوت الأصوات بين المرشحين، فيعتبر قرار وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية مر
- Article 12
The article regulates naming municipal council members, filling vacant seats, when the council is dissolved or dissolved early, and its term of 4 years from the date of the naming decision.
أ - يصدر وزير الشئون البلدية والقروية قرارا بتسمية أعضاء المجلس المنتخبين والمعينين، ولا يجوز تعديل عدد أعضاء المجلس البلدي خلال فترة ولايته. ب - إذا شغرت عضوية
- Article 14
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the method of electing municipal council members, voters' conditions, and the voting and challenge procedures.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية طريقة انتخاب أعضاء المجالس البلدية والشروط الخاصة بالناخبين وإجراءات الاقتراع والطعن.
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.