New Local Administration Law Published in the Official Gazette

The law, consisting of 70 articles, comes in response to Royal directives and in alignment with the outcomes of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System and the Economic Modernization Vision, aiming to reach a legislative framework that improves municipal work and links it to comprehensive development.

The law aims to enhance local administration governance, improve service quality, and expand community participation, in addition to enabling municipalities to perform a developmental and investment role that contributes to stimulating the local economy in the governorates.

The law defines the roles and responsibilities between the Municipal Council and the executive body to prevent the overlap of powers and enhance accountability and oversight, in addition to expanding the powers of the mayor and members of the Municipal Council, and ensuring that the powers of the municipal director do not conflict with the powers of the Municipal Council.

The law maintains the direct and secret election of the mayor and members of the Municipal Council. It also contributes to enhancing development and investment planning through the representation of elected bodies and less-developed regions, and ensuring the representation of various geographical areas to achieve a more equitable distribution of projects and development opportunities.

The law includes provisions to promote automation and digital transformation, and obligates the executive administration to submit periodic reports on financial and administrative performance and projects, and to publish them via official platforms to enhance transparency and public trust.

It is noteworthy that the law was drafted after a series of intensive dialogues held by the government with the House of Representatives, the Senate, specialized committees, parliamentary blocs, and experts, supported by field studies and opinion polls to ensure its alignment with reality and citizens' aspirations.