Arabic
Issued by Council of Ministers Decision 43
Article 1
The following terms—wherever they appear in this system—have the meanings assigned to each of them:
Organization:
The Saudi Irrigation Organization.
System:
The system of the organization.
Minister:
The Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
Board:
The board of directors of the organization.
Chairman:
The chairman of the board.
Article 2
The organization enjoys public legal personality and financial and administrative independence. It is legally affiliated with the minister, its headquarters are in the Ahsa Governorate, and it may establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.
Article 3
The organization aims to regulate, oversee, operate, and develop the works and services related to irrigation, dams, and treated water reuse activities in the Kingdom.
Article 4
The organization is responsible for managing, operating, and developing irrigation, dams, and treated water reuse activities in the Kingdom. It may—without prejudice to the mandates of other government entities—carry out all that is necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:
1․ Setting policies, strategies, plans, and programs related to its mandates, reviewing and evaluating them, supervising their implementation, and reporting on matters that require the completion of legal procedures in their regard.
2․ Providing irrigation and agricultural drainage services, including the transportation, distribution, and sale of treated water for all uses (agricultural, industrial, and urban), as well as the design, construction, development, operation, and maintenance of dams.
3․ Setting irrigation scheduling programs for agricultural crops in accordance with water allocations.
4․ Treating and utilizing agricultural wastewater.
5․ Setting and implementing emergency and crisis plans for its activities and addressing water shortages, in coordination with the relevant entities, and in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.
6․ Proposing draft laws and regulations related to its mandates, proposing amendments to those in force, and reporting on them in accordance with legal procedures.
7․ Setting standards related to its mandates, and reporting on matters as needed in accordance with legal procedures.
8․ Applying the standards of water quality used in its activities, monitoring the level of its quality and the quality of agricultural soil, and supporting environmental restoration.
9․ Designing, constructing, developing, operating, and maintaining water supply sources for its activities in coordination with the relevant entities.
10․ Designing, constructing, developing, operating, and maintaining pumping stations, infrastructure works for the projects of the activities of the organization, and agricultural drainage systems.
11․ Developing the approved technologies for monitoring the consumption of irrigation water, dams, and treated water, ensuring their compliance with water use allocations and programs, and taking appropriate measures to address cases of non-compliance in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations, and procedures.
12․ Conducting studies and research related to its mandates in partnership with universities, institutes, and specialized entities.
13․ Adopting modern technologies to rationalize the use of irrigation water, dam water, and treated water.
14․ Representing the Kingdom, or participating in its representation, in local, regional, and international organizations and institutions related to its mandates, in accordance with the legal procedures.
15․ Holding and participating in workshops, seminars, conferences, and exhibitions.
16․ Coordinating with relevant entities to provide programs and courses in fields relating to its mandates, and qualifying human cadres working in these fields.
17․ Providing a database and statistical information on its activities.
18․ Investing in order to achieve its objectives, in accordance with the legal procedures.
19․ Determining the fee for the sale of treated water and the services, works, and products provided by the organization, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
20․ Licensing the practice of activities related to the mandates of the organization, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws, regulations, and the like.
21․ Enhancing revenues and achieving returns on investment in the assets of the organization from within the organization or in partnership with external entities, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
22․ Working to benefit from the available sources of irrigation water, dam water, and traditional and non-traditional treated water.
Article 5
1․ The organization must have a board of directors chaired by the minister and the membership of the following:
(a) A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
(b) A representative from the Ministry of Finance.
(c) A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. (d) A representative from the Agricultural Development Fund.
(e) The chief executive officer of the organization.
(f) The chief executive officer of the National Water Company.
(g) Two persons with the expertise and competence in the field of work of the organization, whose appointment must be issued by an order of the Prime Minister based on a nomination by the chairman of the board.
2․ With the exception of the chairman and the two members referred to in paragraph (1)(e) and (f) of this article, the term of membership in the board is three years, renewable for a similar period and for one time.
3․ The rank of the representatives of the government entities must not be less than the 14th rank or its equivalent.
4․ The chairman shall choose a deputy from among the representatives of government entities, except for the chief executive officer of the organization.
Article 6
The board is the supreme authority over the affairs of the organization. It supervises its management and the conduct of its business, and shall take all the necessary decisions to achieve its objectives within the limits of the provisions of the system, and in particular, it may carry out the following:
1․ Supervising the implementation of the tasks entrusted to the organization.
2․ Approving the policies and strategies relating to the mandates of the organization, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and reporting on matters that require the completion of legal procedures in their regard.
3․ Proposing draft laws and regulations related to the mandates of the organization, proposing amendments to those in force, and reporting on matters as needed in accordance with legal procedures.
4․ Approving the standards related to the mandates of the organization, and reporting on matters as needed in accordance with legal procedures.
5․ Reviewing the periodic reports submitted to it on the progress of work in the organization.
6․ Approving the organizational structure and guide of the organization.
7․ Approving the financial and administrative regulations governing the organization, and other internal regulations necessary for the management of its affairs. The approval of the financial regulations and provisions with financial impact in other regulations must be in agreement with the Ministry of Finance, and the approval of the administrative regulations must be in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
8․ Approving the remuneration and benefits of the specialized experts with the required competencies employed by the organization, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
9․ Determining the fee for the services, works, products, and licenses provided by the organization.
10․ Approving the draft budget of the organization, its final account, the accounts auditor report, and the annual report, in preparation for submitting them in accordance with the legal procedures.
11․ Approving the investment policies of the organization in order to achieve its objectives, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
12․ Accepting bequests, gifts, donations, endowment revenue, and grants submitted to the organization, in accordance with the provisions governing this.
13․ Approving the signing of agreements, memorandums of understanding, protocols, and contracts, in accordance with the established legal procedures.
14․ Appointing an external accounts auditor and an internal financial controller.
15․ Appointing a secretary general for the board.
The board may form standing or temporary committees from among its members or others, to which it assigns the tasks it deems fit. The decision to form each committee must specify its chairman, members, and mandates, and it may seek the assistance of whomever it deems fit to perform the tasks entrusted to it.
The board may delegate some of its mandates—except for the mandates mentioned in paragraphs 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 14 of this article—to any of the officials in the organization.
Article 7
1․ The board meetings must be held at the headquarters of the organization or in any other place in the Kingdom, under the chairmanship of the chairman or his delegate from among the members of the board representing government entities, except for the chief executive officer of the organization.
2․ The board must hold its meetings periodically provided that they are not less than two meetings per year. The chairman may call for a meeting whenever the need arises, or when requested by at least a third of the members of the board. The invitation to the meeting must be sent by the chairman, or his delegate, in writing at least seven days before the meeting, and the invitation must include the agenda and place of the meeting.
3․ The meeting of the board is valid if attended by at least a majority of its members, including the chairman or his delegate. Decisions are issued by at least a majority of the votes of those in attendance and in the event of a tie, the side with which the chairman of the meeting voted prevails.
4․ The board may—when necessary and as determined by the chairman—hold meetings and vote on recommendations and decisions remotely through the use of technology. Recommendations and decisions may be taken by circulation among the members, and they must be signed to indicate that all members have reviewed them. Recommendations and decisions issued in these two manners are not valid unless they are circulated and voted upon by all members of the board and obtain at least a majority of their votes.
5․ The board may invite whomever it deems appropriate to attend its meetings to provide information, opinions, or clarifications without having the right to vote.
6․ A member shall not abstain from voting or authorize another member to vote on his behalf during his absence. The objecting member shall record his objection and its reasons in the minutes of the meeting.
7․ The deliberations and decisions of the board must be recorded in minutes and must be signed by the chairman of the meeting and the members in attendance.
8․ A member shall not disclose any of the secrets of the organization that he has viewed because of his membership in the board.
9․ The secretary general of the board shall prepare the agendas, minutes of meetings, recommendations, and decisions.
Article 8
The organization must have a chief executive officer, appointed and relieved from his position by a decision by the board. He must be responsible for managing the affairs of the organization, and his responsibilities must be focused within the limits of the system and decisions of the board. He shall undertake the following mandates:
1․ Proposing the policies and strategies relating to the mandates of the organization, and the plans and programs necessary for their implementation, and submitting them to the board for consideration and approval.
2․ Supervising the progress of work in the organization through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.
3․ Proposing the structure of the organization and its organizational guide, the financial and administrative regulations governing the organization, and other internal regulations necessary for the management of its affairs, and submitting them to the board for consideration and approval.
4․ Implementing the decisions issued by the board.
5․ Supervising the preparation of the draft annual budget of the organization, its draft final account, and the annual report, and submitting them to the board for consideration and approval.
6․ Appointing the employees of the organization in accordance with the powers granted to him, and supervising them.
7․ Disbursing from the approved budget of the organization and taking all financial procedures, in accordance with the approved laws and regulations and the powers delegated to him by the board.
8․ Preparing reports on the implementation of the plans, programs, and achievements of the organization, and presenting them to the board.
9․ Signing agreements, memorandums of understanding, and contracts, in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.
10․ Contracting to perform the works, services, and tasks entrusted to the organization whenever the need arises, and other works and services, in accordance with the laws and powers delegated to him by the board.
11․ Organizing the participation of the organization in regional and international conferences, events, festivals, and exhibitions, in accordance with the legal procedures.
12․ Issuing the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of the system and the regulations issued based on it, and the adopted rules and procedures, in accordance with the powers entrusted to him.
13․ Representing the organization before the judiciary, and before government entities, other relevant institutions and authorities, and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may authorize others to do so.
14․ Proposing the remuneration and benefits of the specialized experts with the required competencies employed by the organization, and submitting them to the board for consideration and approval.
15․ Any other mandate assigned to him by the board.
The chairman may delegate some of his mandates to the employees of the organization he deems fit.
Article 9
The financial resources of the organization consist of the following:
1․ Allocations in the general budget of the state.
2․ The fee it collects for the services, works, products, and licenses it provides.
3․ Returns on its investments.
4․ Gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowment revenue accepted by the board, in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.
5․ Any other resources approved by the board in a manner that does not violate the laws and instructions.
Article 10
1․ The funds of the organization must be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance in the Saudi Central Bank.
2․ The organization shall open an account in the Saudi Central Bank, and it may open other accounts in any of the banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Disbursements from these accounts must be made in accordance with the budget of the organization and its approved financial regulations.
Article 11
1․ The organization must have an independent annual budget.
2․ The financial year of the organization is the financial year of the state.
Article 12
Without prejudice to the mandate of the General Court of Audit to audit the accounts and operations of the organization, the board shall appoint one or more external account auditors licensed to work in the Kingdom to audit the accounts of the organization, its transactions, its annual budget, and its final account and the board shall determine their fees. The report of the accounts auditor must be submitted to the board, and a copy of it must be provided to the General Court of Audit after it is approved by the board.
Article 13
The employees of the organization are subject to the provisions of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law.
Article 14
The organization shall submit to the Prime Minister—within 90 days from the beginning of each financial year—an annual report on its achievements during the past year, the difficulties it has faced, and any proposals it deems necessary to improve the conduct of its work.
Article 15
The organization shall submit its annual final account to the Prime Minister within 90 days from the end of the financial year.
Article 16
The system must be published in the official gazette, and comes into force on the date of its publication.
Published in Umm Al-Qura 5097 issued on 18 July 2025.
