The Local Administration Law No. 16 of 2026 was published in the Official Gazette on Thursday after royal assent, and will come into force 60 days from publication.
اضافة اعلان
The 70-article law was approved by both houses of parliament and ratified under Article 31 of the constitution. The government says it responds to royal directives and to the outputs of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System and the Economic Modernisation Vision.
What it changes
The law separates the roles of the municipal council and the executive apparatus, in an effort to prevent overlapping authority and strengthen accountability. It broadens the powers of the council president and members, and provides that the municipal director's powers may not conflict with those of the council.
Direct secret ballot for the council president and members is retained.
On planning, the law provides for representation of elected bodies and of less developed areas, and for the representation of different geographic areas, with the stated aim of distributing projects and development opportunities more evenly.
It also carries provisions on automation and digital transformation, and requires the executive administration to publish periodic reports on financial and administrative performance and on projects through official platforms.
The government says the text was drafted after consultations with both houses, parliamentary committees and blocs, and specialists, supported by studies and field opinion polling.
Source: Official Gazette and the Prime Ministry, via Al-Ghad
