Statute of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information

Article One

The following terms, wherever they appear in this Regulation, shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

• Regulation: The Regulation of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
• Authority: The General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
• Board: The Board of Directors of the Authority.
• Sector: The surveying, geospatial information and imaging sector relating to surveying and geospatial information activities.

Article Two

The Authority shall have public legal personality and financial and administrative independence and shall be organizationally affiliated with the Minister of Defense.

Article Three

The Authority’s headquarters shall be in Riyadh. It may establish other branches or offices within the Kingdom by a decision of the Board.

Article Four

The Authority aims to regulate, advance, supervise and monitor the Sector in the Kingdom, excluding activities relating to the Ministry of Defense, in order to achieve quality, improve performance and safeguard security considerations in coordination with the relevant entities. It may undertake all actions necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:

• Establishing and updating mandatory and guiding standards and controls relating to the Sector to achieve integrated use of the geospatial information system among relevant entities, and ensuring their application and compliance.
• Proposing regulations relating to the Sector after presenting them to the Board.
• Approving and developing the National Geospatial Infrastructure, the National Geodetic Reference, the national geodetic networks and marine hydrographic surveying; providing and marketing data, products, services, electronic applications, topographic and aerial maps, and marine navigation charts relating to the Sector; and safeguarding their security and confidentiality.
• Preparing strategic plans, conducting studies and research relating to the Sector, and working to implement them with the participation of relevant entities.
• Licensing activities in the Sector, supervising the qualification and classification of practitioners, and establishing the rules governing them.
• Working to protect the interests of beneficiaries of the Sector.
• Preparing the Sector to attract investment and stimulating its growth.
• Developing national competencies in the Sector in cooperation with universities and specialized institutes inside and outside the Kingdom.
• Coordinating and cooperating with counterpart bodies in other countries and with international authorities and organizations relating to the Sector, in accordance with statutory procedures.
• Representing the Kingdom domestically and internationally in matters within the Authority’s jurisdiction, in accordance with statutory procedures.
• Supervising the publication and updating of atlases of the Kingdom and working to develop them in coordination with relevant entities.
• Working to provide information and studies concerning the Kingdom’s land and maritime borders in relation to the Sector, providing related consultations, and developing a database for this purpose in coordination with relevant entities.
• Providing consultations and services relating to the Sector to governmental, private and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom.

Article Five

1. First

The Authority shall have a Board of Directors constituted as follows:

2. Second

The members referred to in paragraphs (19) and (20) of item (First) of this Article shall be appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon nomination by the Board Chair, for a term of three (3) years renewable once.

3. Third

Representatives of government agencies must hold a rank no lower than the fifteenth (15th) grade or its equivalent.

Article Six

The Board is the supreme authority responsible for managing the Authority’s affairs, setting its general policy and making the decisions necessary to achieve its purposes. In particular, it shall have the following powers:

• Approving the Authority’s policies, plans and operational programs.
• Approving the controls and conditions for the Authority’s issuance of licenses and permits for activities and operations in the Sector.
• Approving the Authority’s organizational structure.
• Approving financial regulations in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.
• Approving administrative regulations in agreement with the Ministry of Finance with respect to provisions having financial implications.
• Approving technical regulations and internal regulations necessary for managing the Authority’s affairs.
• Approving the entitlements of persons whose expertise the Board engages.
• Approving the pricing policy for activities, products, services, licenses and permits in the Sector, and the fees for any activity, product, service, license or permit provided by the Authority.
• Approving the clearing and settlement mechanism among relevant entities.
• Appointing an internal financial controller.
• Approving the Authority’s draft budget, final accounts and auditor’s report in preparation for completing statutory procedures.
• Approving the Authority’s annual report and submitting it in accordance with statutory procedures.
• Approving the establishment of companies, participation in their establishment or acquisition of shares in them to operate in the Sector, or entering into partnerships or alliances, in accordance with statutory procedures.
• Approving the purchase of real estate for the Authority’s benefit to achieve its purposes, in accordance with statutory procedures.
• Accepting donations, gifts, grants, bequests and endowments offered to the Authority.

The Board may delegate some of its powers to such officials of the Authority as it deems appropriate.

Article Seven

• Board meetings shall be held at the Authority’s headquarters and may, when necessary, be held at any other location within the Kingdom.
• The Board shall meet at the invitation of its Chair at least twice a year. The invitation must be accompanied by the meeting agenda. The Chair shall convene a meeting whenever at least half of the Board members so request.
• A meeting shall be valid only if at least a majority of members are present, including the Board Chair or Deputy Chair. Decisions shall be adopted by at least a majority of the votes of those present. In the event of a tie, the side supported by the meeting Chair shall prevail. A dissenting member may have their objection and the reasons for it recorded in the meeting minutes.
• The Board’s deliberations and decisions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the meeting Chair and members present. The President of the Authority shall publish the decisions in the manner prescribed by law.
• A member may not abstain from voting or authorize another member to vote on their behalf in their absence.
• A member may not disclose any confidential information of the Authority that comes to their knowledge.
• The Board shall have a secretary selected from among the Authority’s employees by the Board Chair upon nomination by the President of the Authority. The Board shall determine the secretary’s duties and remuneration.
• The Board may invite persons whose information and expertise it wishes to draw upon to attend its meetings, without voting rights.

Article Eight

The Authority shall have a President appointed by a decision of the Board following the approval of the Prime Minister. The decision shall specify the President’s remuneration and financial benefits. The President shall be the executive responsible for managing the Authority, with responsibilities limited to those provided for in this Regulation. In particular, the President shall exercise the following powers and functions:

• Supervising the Authority’s administrative, financial and technical activities.
• Following up on the implementation of decisions issued by the Board. Approving the leasing of real estate and the purchase and leasing of movable property for the Authority’s benefit to achieve its purposes.
• Proposing the Authority’s organizational structure and its financial, internal, technical and administrative regulations, submitting them to the Board, and supervising their implementation after approval.
• Proposing the pricing policy for activities, products, services, licenses and permits in the Sector, and the fees for any activity, product, service, license or permit provided by the Authority.
• Preparing the Authority’s plans and programs and supervising their implementation.
• Proposing the entitlements of persons whose expertise the Board engages.
• Proposing the clearing and settlement mechanism among relevant entities.
• Supervising the preparation of the Authority’s draft budget, annual report and final accounts, and submitting them to the Board.
• Authorizing the Authority’s expenditures within the limits of its approved annual budget.
• Issuing licenses and permits for activities in the Sector, in coordination with relevant entities, in accordance with the controls and conditions approved by the Board.
• Collecting revenues (directly, through clearing or through payment) and developing collection procedures.
• Preparing the studies necessary to establish companies, participate in their establishment, acquire shares in them, or enter into partnerships or alliances.
• Appointing and supervising the Authority’s employees in accordance with the powers granted to the President and the Authority’s regulations.
• Attracting competencies required for the work and appointing persons whose appointment is necessary for the Authority’s operations.
• Approving scholarships and training for the Authority’s employees to study inside or outside the Kingdom, in accordance with the Authority’s regulations.
• Submitting periodic reports to the Board on the Authority’s work, achievements and activities.
• Representing the Authority in its relations with other entities and before judicial, administrative and other bodies.
• Exercising the functions conferred upon the President by Board decisions and the provisions of this Regulation.

The President of the Authority may delegate some of their powers and duties to other employees of the Authority.

Article Nine

The Authority’s employees shall be subject to the provisions of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law.

Article Ten

The Authority’s financial resources shall consist of the following sources:

• Allocations made to it in the State’s general budget.
• Fees for any activity, product, service, license or permit provided by the Authority.
• Movable and immovable assets at its disposal or transferred to it from other entities.
• Funds generated by the Authority’s investments.
• Gifts, donations, grants, bequests and endowments accepted by the Board.
• Any other resource approved by the Board in accordance with applicable laws.

Article Eleven

The Authority shall have an independent annual budget issued by Royal Decree.

Article Twelve

The Authority’s funds shall be deposited in the Ministry of Finance’s current account with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The Authority may open accounts with banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom, and disbursements shall be made from such accounts in accordance with the Authority’s budget.

Article Thirteen

The Authority’s fiscal year shall be the State’s fiscal year.

Article Fourteen

The Authority shall submit its annual final accounts to the Council of Ministers within ninety (90) days of the end of the fiscal year and shall provide the General Court of Audit with a copy.

Article Fifteen

Without prejudice to the General Court of Audit’s right to audit the Authority’s accounts, the Board shall appoint one or more external auditors, whether natural or legal persons licensed to operate in the Kingdom, and determine their fees. The auditor’s report shall be submitted to the Board.

Article Sixteen

This Regulation shall replace the Regulation of the General Authority for Survey issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (8) dated 14/1/1427 AH and shall repeal any provisions that conflict with it.

Article Seventeen

This Regulation shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force ninety (90) days after the date of its publication.