المملكة: No advantages or exceptions… new controls for naming municipal projects after donors

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has introduced controls regulating the receipt of gifts and donations To enhance transparency and financial control. The Ministry limited its acceptance through its General Office, stressing the prohibition of preferential treatment for donors, and the requirement of the Minister’s approval.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing based these updated controls issued in May of the current year 2026 on Cabinet Resolution No. 365 issued on the fourteenth of the month of Shaban of the year 1436 AH.

Controls for organizing donations

This step aims to organize the procedures for receiving and managing donations to support housing initiatives. Developmental and development of municipal facilities with non-governmental funding.

The controls stressed that they must be Donations made for the benefit of the Ministry or secretariats are primarily in-kind.

It explained that if this is not possible, cash donations are accepted by check written in the name of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.

The Ministry stressed that receiving donations of all kinds is done exclusively through the Ministry’s general office.

It added that checks must be deposited in the Ministry’s approved account under the name “Grants and Donations,” with The donor with proof of receipt.

Preventing preferential treatments

The regulatory document warned against any violation of regulations or giving the donor preferential or discriminatory treatment in contracts, issuing licenses, or providing services.

It also categorically prohibited providing any financial or in-kind benefits to employees of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in exchange for these donations.

The rules indicated that final approval to accept any donation is subject to the authority of the Minister Municipalities and Housing or his authorized representative.

It was stated that it is permissible to give the name of the donor to the donated project after the approval of the Minister, provided that the project is distinguished by its size or cost and that the name is not repeated in the same place.

Dealing with bank accounts

With regard to bank accounts, the instructions required opening an account designated for donations in the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia or one of the licensed banks, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Finance.

It revealed the necessity of identifying two responsible persons to sign alongside the Ministry’s financial controller to ensure double oversight.

The controls indicated that withdrawals from the designated bank account are carried out via checks only, and the disbursement order is required to be signed by the officials and the financial controller.

It noted the necessity of preparing an official evaluation report from a specialized financial and technical committee to determine the estimated value of in-kind donations.

The Ministry obligated its affiliated agencies to allocate an annual statistical record. For in-kind donations and insured items, to record all incoming donations.

It also imposed the provision of the General Auditing Office with a copy of this statistical record at the end of each fiscal year.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing stated that the Financial Affairs and Budget Agency would assume responsibility for preparing and updating the donation inventory record, to protect it from damage or tampering.

It concluded by allocating the agency’s e-mail to respond to all inquiries and comments related to the application of these controls.

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