New regulations to govern infrastructure projects in Riyadh
The Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, through its "Istilaa" platform, has released a draft of 19 regulatory guidelines for those authorized to work on infrastructure projects in the region. This strategic step aims to strengthen sector regulation, enhance compliance and transparency, and elevate the quality of infrastructure project implementation to the highest international technical and professional standards.
A developmental context that aligns with Vision 2030
These regulatory measures come at a time when the Saudi capital is witnessing unprecedented urban and developmental growth, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Riyadh Strategy, which aims to make the capital one of the world's largest urban economies. Infrastructure projects are the backbone of this transformation, making quality control and regulation of excavation and installation work essential for improving the urban landscape and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Details of the controls and powers of the owning entities
The new regulations aim to establish general rules governing the obligations and rights of licensees without discrimination, ensuring that work is carried out with the required quality and efficiency. According to the draft, the center issues a "Permit to Conduct Infrastructure Project Work" in the Riyadh region to the project owner, and its scope of work includes conducting the work and identifying its contractors.
The center granted the owning entity a range of powers, most notably:
- Register and review its projects in the detailed master plan.
- Submitting applications for business licenses.
- Request to register or deregister business operators.
- Submitting requests for spatial coordination (restrictions) and organizing project routes with special requirements.
In contrast, the regulations obliged the owner to register the planned projects according to the comprehensive plan methodology, and to ensure the efficiency of the implementers, laboratories and consulting offices, while bearing full responsibility for monitoring licenses and violations.
Detailed roles for implementers and consultants
Article Nine defines the regulatory framework for the contractor, limiting their role to actual execution while adhering to technical standards and obtaining the necessary permits well in advance. As for consulting firms, Article Eleven stipulates their pivotal role in supervision and oversight, obligating them to submit accurate technical reports, approve implementation plans, and immediately inform the center of any potential hazards in the work area.
Expected impact: Higher quality and fewer conflicts
The implementation of these regulations is expected to reduce visual pollution resulting from project delays or poor execution, as well as accelerate project completion by clearly defining responsibilities. The regulations also address dispute resolution mechanisms, with Article 15 stipulating that the center is responsible for amicably settling disputes between parties within 30 days before resorting to litigation, thus strengthening the investment environment in the sector.
It is worth noting that Article Nineteen confirmed that these provisions would come into effect 60 days after their publication in the Official Gazette, with the cancellation of all previous provisions that conflicted with them, and threatened violators with strict legal penalties for those who practice work without a license.
