17 December 2025

High standards and quality are vital factors in improving economic performance and strengthening the competitiveness of products and services. In this context, the Minister of Commerce, His Excellency Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, approved the Executive Regulations for the Standards and Quality System, aimed at enhancing quality and competitiveness in line with Vision 2030. Under the Regulations, a standard is defined as a document that sets out the rules and characteristics required of a product, while a quality mark indicates that a product meets technical requirements that exceed the approved standard.Why Understanding the Executive Regulations for International Standards and Quality MattersThe Executive Regulations for Standards and Quality serve as a cornerstone for ensuring the quality of products and services offered in any market. As technology and international benchmarks continue to evolve, these regulations have grown more complex, which has made the role of specialized legal consultancies increasingly important. That role includes:Protection from legal violations. Legal consultancies help companies avoid the violations and penalties that can result from failing to comply with the Regulations.Building trust in products and services. Compliance helps establish a strong reputation for products and services, strengthening consumer confidence.Access to international markets. Compliance opens the door for companies to expand into international markets, many of which require adherence to specific quality standards.Improving efficiency and productivity. The Regulations help companies adopt global best practices in quality, improving efficiency and productivity.Key Provisions of the Executive RegulationsThe Executive Regulations for Standards and Quality set out a series of principles and procedures aimed at raising the quality of products and services in the Kingdom.Preparing and adopting standards. The Regulations detail the steps required to prepare and adopt Saudi standards, emphasizing the integrity and impartiality of technical committees and adherence to set timelines.Reviewing and applying Saudi standards and related documents. The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) conducts periodic reviews of standards under an annual plan, with the authority to withdraw standards or related documents where necessary.Granting the quality mark. The Regulations govern the process for licensing establishments to use the quality mark, setting out the required conditions and procedures, while giving SASO the authority to withdraw or suspend a license in cases of misuse.Authorizing the sale of standards. SASO may authorize various entities to sell standards and related documents under specific conditions, retaining the right to revoke that authorization in the event of a violation.The Impact of the Executive Regulations on Product Quality: A Step Toward ExcellenceThe Executive Regulations for Standards and Quality are a core part of building an effective regulatory environment that raises the quality of products and services. By setting clear, well-defined benchmarks, the Regulations encourage companies to adopt best practices in production and distribution, driving a marked improvement in quality overall.Improving product quality is not just about meeting consumer needs. It also strengthens competitiveness. When companies apply the established standards, their products become better able to compete in both local and international markets. This positive competition drives innovation and pushes companies to develop new products that keep pace with changing consumer needs.The Executive Regulations also play a vital role in protecting consumers. They help ensure that every product on the market meets the required standards, giving consumers confidence in their choices and reducing the risks associated with non-conforming products. This sense of security strengthens consumer loyalty and encourages greater support for local products.The Regulations also carry a broader economic impact. By improving production efficiency and raising product quality, they help build trust between consumers and producers, and that trust translates into greater demand for local products, supporting the national economy as a whole.Objectives of the Executive Regulations and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)Clarifying rules and procedures. The Executive Regulations aim to clarify the rules governing standardization and quality, as well as the preparation, adoption, review, and effective application of related documents.Issuing standard specifications. SASO works to issue Saudi standard specifications, systems, and quality guides that align with international benchmarks and World Trade Organization requirements, while ensuring consistency with Islamic values and the Kingdom's interests.Protecting health, the environment, and safety. SASO is committed to protecting public health and the environment and ensuring public safety by confirming that products conform to approved standard specifications, which strengthens confidence in the products in circulation.Ensuring the quality of national products. SASO works to ensure the quality of national products by adopting standards that help them compete in local and international markets, and works to protect the market from counterfeit and substandard goods. The Executive Regulations for Standards and Quality are not simply a set of rules. They form a comprehensive framework that improves the quality of products and services, strengthens companies' ability to compete, protects consumer rights, and supports the national economy. Investing in understanding and applying these Regulations is a vital step toward achieving excellence and success in the market. At Nassr Legal Consultancy, we would be glad to hear from you, and we stand ready to provide the legal advice you need with complete professionalism. Get in touch with us today....

23 November 2025

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.IntroductionState-owned real estate is a fundamental component of the Kingdom's national assets, playing a central role in supporting administrative and development work, as well as in the sustainable management of public resources. In recognition of this, the regulator has worked to protect and organize this area through the Rules and Procedures for the State Real Estate Register, issued by Resolution No. Q/5/27/2025 of the Board of Directors of the State Properties General Authority (SPGA), dated 25/01/1447H. The Rules are designed to safeguard the state's ownership of its real estate, document and protect the related data from loss or misappropriation, and support national plans for managing land and public property. The key provisions of the Rules and Procedures are set out below.Main ObjectivesDocumenting the state's ownership of all its real estate through a sound, systematic process.Coordinating between government entities and the Authority to register all state-owned real estate in the real estate register.Documenting all data and amendments relating to a given property, safeguarding its confidentiality, and raising the level of real estate security.Part One: Definitions and General ProvisionsArticle One sets out a number of definitions that form the basis for understanding the Rules, the most significant of which are as follows.State real estate refers to all land and buildings owned by the state, within the Kingdom and abroad, evidenced by a title deed, except for what is excluded by statutory provision, along with any land within the Kingdom released from private ownership.The State Real Estate Register refers to an electronic database, integrated with a geographic information system, dedicated to state-owned real estate.Dealings in real estate refers to transactions and restrictions that create a principal or ancillary real right, final judicial rulings confirming any such right, and any other transactions or restrictions approved by SPGA.A consolidated title deed refers to a title deed issued for a defined area that combines a number of title deeds that could not be merged for spatial or regulatory reasons.Article Two sets out the objectives of the Rules, explaining that they are intended to establish the state's ownership of all its real estate through specific procedures, covering any changes affecting a property and any dealings carried out in relation to it.Part Two: RegistrationArticle Three provides that all state real estate is registered under the name "State Real Estate," except where a special order or resolution provides otherwise. The same applies to real estate gifted to government entities, which is likewise registered under that name, provided the title deed records that the property was given as a gift or donation, identifies the beneficiary entity, and states any condition set by the donor.Article Four provides that the government entity in question, in coordination with the Authority, is responsible for taking the steps needed to register the state real estate under its control in the real estate register. For all other state real estate, the Authority is responsible for taking the necessary registration steps, in accordance with the provisions of the Real Estate Registration Law.Article Five sets out how dealings are registered. The Authority is responsible for completing the deregistration and registration process, accepting registrations, and recording all dealings that follow the property's initial title registration, without prejudice to a government entity's right to deal with its own real estate under applicable law. The entity concerned must notify the Authority of any change to a property's description within no more than thirty days of the date of the change, so the Authority can take the necessary action under the Real Estate Registration Law.Article Six provides that the Authority records all state-owned real estate in the register referred to in Article Seven of the Rules, and that title deeds must be issued for state-owned real estate in the following cases: where an ownership order or resolution has been issued to that effect; where the property falls within approved urban plans or designated real estate zones under the Real Estate Registration Law; where it has been allocated to a government entity; where it is leased or invested; or in any other case determined by SPGA's Board of Directors.Part Three: The Electronic RegisterArticle Seven governs the contents of the electronic register established by the Authority, known as the State Real Estate Register. The register is managed by the Authority, records certain categories of data, and is governed by a number of rules, the most important of which are as follows.All state-owned real estate and its geographic information.Any dealings affecting that real estate, such as allocation, leasing, or investment.Government licenses issued for a property, and data relating to the services provided to it.The register allows documents to be stored, archived, and tracked for amendments.Allocation decisions, lease agreements, and investment agreements must be recorded within thirty days of the date they are issued or concluded.The register must maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, privacy, security, and data integrity.The Authority coordinates with relevant entities to unify the standards used for documenting data recorded in the State Real Estate Register.Real estate located outside the Kingdom. Article Eight requires government entities to submit all data relating to their real estate located outside the Kingdom to the Authority, and to provide the Authority with any subsequent amendment within sixty days of the date of the change. The Authority records state real estate located outside the Kingdom in the State Real Estate Register, along with any amendments made to it.Part Four: The Consolidated Title Deed, and Regulating Ownership Within Its BoundariesArticle Nine sets out the procedures for issuing a consolidated title deed. The Authority issues the deed following approval from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and completes the process of annotating the title records of the state real estate falling within the boundaries of the consolidated deed.The Article also sets out what the Authority must take into account when proposing the issuance of a consolidated title deed, including that the deed serves the general economic interest and is consistent with the approved strategic and urban development plans, along with the other considerations the Article requires.Register data. Article Ten sets out the Authority's obligations when registering or entering data in the State Real Estate Register, including the following.Adhering, in all registration or entry procedures, to the Rules, procedural guides, and forms approved by the Board.Verifying that the data and requirements needed for each registration or entry are complete, including: the property data specified under the geographic information system; the ownership data and the rights and obligations arising in relation to the property; decisions issued regarding the allocation or recovery of the property, or its lease and investment agreements; evidence of the authorized party's approval of any dealing involving the property; and the property's survey report, where one exists.Article Eleven provides that the Authority is responsible for completing the process of amending a property's title deed data, following the applicable procedures, where the area recorded in the deed differs from the property's actual area on the ground, provided this does not affect private ownership rights. Where the name of the entity to which a property has been allocated changes, or that entity is merged or dissolved, the Authority is responsible for implementing the resulting orders and resolutions by amending the property's title deed accordingly.Part Six: Preserving Original Documents and Forms, and Publishing the RulesArticles Twelve through Fourteen of the Rules require the Authority to retain all original ownership documents for state real estate, within the Kingdom and abroad, along with their digital records. The Authority may carry out the procedures set out in the Rules electronically, and prepares the forms needed to implement the Rules' provisions.The Rules are published in the Official Gazette and take effect from the date of publication.Conclusion The regulator continues to work toward building a comprehensive database for managing state property with accuracy and transparency, in step with technological progress and digital transformation. The Authority and government entities alike are bound by strict deregistration and registration procedures, strengthening the state's role in managing its real estate, protecting public funds, and ensuring that ownership is documented in a clear, systematic manner....

30 December 2025

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most MercifulRegulations Governing the Centre for Supporting Development Authorities and Strategic Offices Published on 14 June 1447HIntroduction:The Kingdom has recently seen major developmental transformations, strengthening planning and development capacities at both the regional and municipal levels. The Regulations Governing the Centre for Supporting Development Authorities and Strategic Offices were introduced against this backdrop, reflecting a clear intent to reshape the urban, economic, and social development landscape and to unify efforts among the relevant authorities. The key provisions of these Regulations are set out below.Chapter One: Definitions and General ProvisionsArticle (1) sets out the definitions needed to understand the Regulations, the most important of which are:The Centre: the Centre for Supporting Development Authorities and Strategic Offices.The Chairman: the Chairman of the Board.Development Authorities: regional and urban development authorities.Strategic Offices: strategic offices for regional and urban development.Article (2) provides that the Centre has an independent public legal personality, with financial and administrative independence. It is organisationally linked to the Prime Minister, is headquartered in Riyadh, and may establish branches or offices elsewhere in the Kingdom as needed.Chapter Two: Objectives, Functions, and Powers of the CentreArticle (3) sets the Centre's primary objective as advancing the work of development authorities and strategic offices, improving their projects and services, and achieving institutional excellence in how they carry out their roles. It does so by providing comprehensive support for planning and development activity across the urban, demographic, economic, social, cultural, environmental, transport, and infrastructure sectors, including digital infrastructure, in line with the objectives of comprehensive development and the Kingdom's Vision.The Regulations entrust the Centre with a broad set of tasks, the most notable of which are to:organise and coordinate the work of development authorities and strategic offices, ensuring integration between them;standardise reference frameworks and lay the groundwork for Kingdom wide urban codes and standards;support urban planning and design, build capacity, and develop technical guidelines and standards;align development authorities' strategic plans and visions with the Kingdom's Vision and its implementation programmes;oversee the development of performance indicators, establish internal governance, and manage authorities' operations during their establishment; andconduct studies and research, conclude agreements, and cooperate with relevant local and international bodies.Chapter Three: Administrative Structure and GovernanceThe Centre is managed by a Board of Directors, chaired by a person appointed by order of the Prime Minister and comprising representatives of relevant government bodies alongside the Chief Executive Officer. The Board oversees the Centre's affairs and manages its operations; approves its policies, plans, budget, and regulations; sets fees for certain services; and approves agreements and contracts. It may also form standing or ad hoc committees and delegate specific powers, in accordance with the applicable rules.Chapter Four: Executive ManagementThe Chief Executive is responsible for managing the Centre's day to day affairs, implementing approved policies and plans, and representing the Centre before judicial and official bodies. This includes signing agreements once approved by the Board, disbursing funds from the Centre's budget, appointing and supervising staff, monitoring the implementation of Board decisions, and carrying out any other tasks the Board assigns.Chapter Five: Personnel, Financial, and Supervisory AffairsArticles (8) through (14) govern the Centre's personnel, financial, and supervisory framework, ensuring the regular conduct of its business, sound management of its resources, and adherence to the principles of transparency and accountability.On personnel matters, Article (8) provides that the Centre's staff are subject to the Labour Law and the Social Insurance Law.On financial independence, Article (9) provides that the Centre has an independent annual budget, with a financial year aligned to the State's financial year, reinforcing its operational independence while keeping it within the general framework of public finance.Article (10) sets out the Centre's sources of funding, which include government appropriations, fees for services provided, and donations, grants, endowments, and other statutory resources. All revenue is subject to approved financial controls and must be deposited in official accounts with the Saudi Central Bank, ensuring financial discipline.On oversight and accountability, Article (11) requires the Centre to submit its final accounts within a specified period, with a copy provided to the relevant supervisory authorities. Article (12) subjects the Centre's accounts to audit by the General Auditing Bureau, alongside an appointed external auditor, reinforcing transparency and sound management of public funds.Article (13) requires the Board to submit an annual report covering the Centre's achievements, the difficulties it has encountered, and its proposals for improving performance.Article (14) provides that these Regulations take effect from the date of their approval.Conclusion: Taken together, these Regulations form a comprehensive regulatory framework that improves the efficiency of development work, standardises reference frameworks, and raises the quality of planning and implementation. They also embed the principles of governance and financial and administrative independence, and ensure oversight and transparency in resource management, supporting the Kingdom's urban development objectives and the goals of Vision 2030....