Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued on Sunday a royal decree renaming the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing to the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.

IMinister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail expressed his profound gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He emphasized that the name change reflects a renewed commitment to developing a modern urban environment in line with Vision objectives, enhancing the overall performance of the ministry and its affiliated entities.

"The goal is to achieve sustainable urban development plans and enable municipalities to contribute to improving the quality of life in cities and advancing the housing sector to provide innovative services to beneficiaries."

Al-Hogail highlighted the significance of the municipalities and housing sectors, noting their direct impact on citizens' lives. The ministry continuously strives to elevate the quality of municipal and housing services provided to citizens, adhering to international best practices and experiences.

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs was established by royal decree in 1975 to oversee urban planning and the development of municipal and rural areas, along with managing municipal services to maintain environmental cleanliness and health.

In 2021, a royal decree merged the Ministry of Housing with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, forming the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing to create an integrated system aimed at achieving further successes and aspirations.