Al-Jawf: Major projects will be required to disclose information early starting in 2026
In a strategic move aimed at improving urban planning efficiency and enhancing quality of life, the Strategic Development Center for Al-Jawf Region has launched a new governance policy for major development projects in the region through the "Istilaa" platform. This initiative aims to streamline the project application process based on the principle of "early notification," ensuring high-level prior coordination with service providers and seamless infrastructure integration.
A developmental context that aligns with Vision 2030
This step comes within the framework of the comprehensive development drive underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, where regional development authorities and offices play a pivotal role in unifying efforts and directing investments in the right direction. The Al-Jawf region holds significant strategic importance as the "breadbasket of the Kingdom" and a hub for renewable energy, making project governance there an urgent necessity to ensure resource sustainability and avoid haphazard implementation, which will positively impact the region's urban and economic landscape.
Disclosure standards and geographic scope
The center clarified that the new policy encompasses all projects located within the geographical and administrative boundaries of the Al-Jawf region. The policy establishes precise disclosure requirements, applying to projects exceeding 20,000 square meters in area or with investment costs exceeding 15 million Saudi riyals. This list includes urban, commercial, service, and infrastructure projects with a social impact, with the exception of warehouses, which are exempt from early disclosure requirements.
Enhancing the investment environment and integrating services
This regulation aims to address one of the most significant challenges facing urban development: conflicting infrastructure projects and overlapping jurisdictions. Through early disclosure, the readiness of water, electricity, and telecommunications networks is ensured concurrently with project implementation, minimizing financial losses resulting from redoing or route modifications, and providing an attractive investment environment characterized by transparency and clear procedures for both public and private sector investors.
Responsibility and application timeline
The policy clearly stipulates that project owners must disclose their plans at least six months before the actual implementation date. This decision is scheduled to become mandatory on April 1, 2026. The Strategic Development Center for Al-Jawf Region emphasized that compliance with this policy is essential, as each party is responsible for ensuring its activities align with the requirements. The Center is also granted the right to take the necessary corrective measures to guarantee compliance, in a concerted effort to achieve institutional integration that serves the region's future.
