The Foundation:
- Council of Ministers Resolution No. (70) dated 22/4/1410H (text of the Resolution), which stipulates restricting all agencies operating in the field of surveying and producing maps, whether in government agencies or others, and collecting and concentrating all their work in one device called (Central Survey Administration), which shall be responsible for Every survey job needed by any governmental or non-governmental agency.
- Council of Ministers Resolution No. (133) dated 2/5/1422H (text of the Resolution) approving the transformation of the Central Survey Administration at the Ministry of Defense into a Commission called the "General Commission for Survey" that has legal personality and an independent budget and is linked to the Minister of Defense.
- Council of Ministers Resolution No. (8) dated 14/1/1427H (text of the Resolution) approving the organization of the General Commission for Survey and its organizational structure and guide in the attached formulas, and the board of directors of the Authority may - within the limits of its competence - amend the organizational guide.
- Council of Ministers Resolution No. (90) dated 5/2/1442H (text of the Resolution) approving the organization of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
Statute of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information
Article (1): In this Statute, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto:
Statute: Statute of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
Authority: General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
Board: Board of Directors of the Authority.
Sector: The sector of survey, geospatial information, and imaging.
Article (2): The Authority shall be a public legal person with financial and administrative independence and it shall report to the Minister of Defense.
Article (3): The Authority’s headquarters shall be in the City of Riyadh, and it may establish branches or offices in the Kingdom pursuant to a decision by the Board.
Article (4): The Authority shall regulate, develop, supervise, and monitor the Sector in the Kingdom, except for activities relating to the Ministry of Defense, in a manner that achieves quality, enhances performance, and maintains security, in coordination with relevant agencies. The Authority may undertake any measure it deems necessary to achieve its objectives, including the following:
- Setting and updating rules and standards relating to the Sector to achieve integrated use of the geospatial information system among relevant agencies and to ensure compliance with said rules and standards.
- Proposing relevant laws upon obtaining the approval of the Board.
- Approving and developing the national geospatial infrastructure, national geodetic reference, national geodetic networks, and marine hydrographic survey; providing and marketing Sector-related data, products, services, electronic applications, topographic and aerial maps, and marine navigational charts; and maintaining their security and confidentiality.
- Developing and implementing strategic plans and conducting Sector-related studies and research in collaboration with relevant agencies.
- Licensing Sector activities, overseeing the training and classification of practitioners, and setting relevant rules.
- Protecting the interests of Sector stakeholders.
- Developing the Sector to attract investments and enhancing its growth.
- Building national capacities in the Sector, in cooperation with universities and specialized institutes within the Kingdom and abroad.
- Coordinating and cooperating with its counterparts in other countries as well as relevant international agencies and organizations, in accordance with statutory procedures.
- Representing the Kingdom locally and internationally, in accordance with statutory procedures.
- Supervising the publication and updating of the Kingdom’s Atlases, and developing them in coordination with relevant agencies.
- Providing information, studies, and consultations on the Kingdom's land and maritime borders, and developing a database for such purpose in coordination with relevant agencies.
- Providing Sector-related consultations and services to government and private agencies, and other entities within the Kingdom and abroad.
Article (5):
First: The Authority shall have a board of directors, comprising the following:
| 1 | Minister of Defense | Chairman |
| 2 | Vice-Minister of Defense | Member and Vice-Chairman |
| 3 | A representative from the Ministry of Defense | Member |
| 4 | A representative from the Ministry of Energy | Member |
| 5 | A representative from the Ministry of Interior | Member |
| 6 | A representative from the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services | Member |
| 7 | A representative from the Ministry of Finance | Member |
| 8 | A representative from the Ministry of Education | Member |
| 9 | A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture | Member |
| 10 | A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning | Member |
| 11 | A representative from the Ministry of Communications and Information | Member |
12 | A representative from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs | Member |
| 13 | A representative from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology | Member |
| 14 | A representative from the Saudi Geological Survey | Member |
| 15 | A representative from the General Authority for Statistics | Member |
| 16 | A representative from the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence | Member |
| 17 | A representative from the State Propeties General Authority | Member |
| 18 | President of the Authority | Member |
| 19 | Two prominent experts in the Authority's activities | Members |
Second: Appointment of members referred to in paragraph (First)(19) and (20) of this Article shall be pursuant to a resolution by the Council of Ministers upon a recommendation by the Chairman of the Board for a term of three years, renewable once.
Third: The rank of representatives of government agencies shall not be lower than Grade 15 or its equivalent.
Article (6): The Board of Directors is the Authority’s supreme authority and it shall be in charge of managing the Authority’s affairs, setting its general policy, and taking necessary decisions to achieve its purposes. It shall, in particular, have the following powers:
- Approving the Authority’s policies, plans, and operational programs.
- Approving rules and conditions for the issuance of Sector-related licenses and permits by the Authority.
- Approving the Authority’s organizational structure.
- Approving the financial regulations, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.
- Approving the administrative regulations, and coordinating with the Ministry of Finance regarding provisions with financial impact.
- Approving the Authority’s technical and internal regulations.
- Approving remuneration of experts hired by the Board.
- Approving the pricing policy for Sector-related services, products, licenses, and permits, as well as the fees for services, products, licenses, and permits provided by the Authority.
- Approving clearing and settlement mechanism between relevant agencies.
- Appointing an internal comptroller.
- Approving the Authority’s draft budget, final account, and auditor’s report.
- Approving the Authority’s annual report and submitting it in accordance with statutory procedures.
- Approving the incorporation of companies, the participation in their incorporation, the holding of shares therein, or the entry into partnerships or consortiums, in accordance with statutory procedures.
- Approving the purchase of real property for the purpose of achieving the Authority’s objectives, in accordance with statutory procedures.
- Approving donations, gifts, grants, bequests, and endowments offered to the Authority.
The Board may delegate certain powers to Authority officers it deems fit.
Article (7):
- Board meetings shall be held at the Authority’s headquarters and may, if necessary, be held elsewhere within the Kingdom.
- The Board shall convene at least twice a year upon a call by its Chairman; the call shall include the meeting agenda. Extraordinary meetings shall be held upon a call by the Chairman if so requested by half of the Board members.
- Board meetings shall be valid only if attended by a majority of Board members, provided the Chairman or Vice-Chairman is among the attendees. Board decisions shall be passed by a majority vote of attending members. In case of a tie, the meeting chairman shall have the casting vote. A member may record his objection, if any, and the grounds therefor in the meeting minutes.
- Board deliberations and decisions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the meeting chairman and attending members. The President of the Authority shall publish said decisions in accordance with the law.
- A Board member may not abstain from voting nor vote by proxy.
- A Board member may not disclose any confidential information he becomes privy to by virtue of his membership.
- The Board shall have a secretary from among the Authority's employees, nominated by the President and appointed by the Chairman. The Board shall determine his duties and remuneration.
- The Board may invite experts to attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity.
Article (8): The Authority shall have a president appointed pursuant to a Board decision upon the approval of the President of the Council of Ministers. The Board decision shall determine his remuneration and financial benefits. The President is the Authority's executive officer; he shall manage the Authority’s affairs and exercise his duties within the powers stipulated in this Statute. The President shall, in particular, have the following powers:
- Supervising the Authority’s administrative, financial, and technical affairs.
- Monitoring the implementation of Board decisions.
- Approving the lease of real property and the purchase and lease of movables for the benefit of the Authority.
- Proposing to the Board the Authority’s organizational structure as well as financial, internal, technical, and administrative regulations, and supervising the implementation thereof upon approval.
- Proposing the pricing policy for Sector-related products, services, licenses, and permits, as well as the fees for any product, service, license, or permit offered and issued by the Authority.
- Developing the Authority’s plans and programs and supervising their implementation.
- Proposing the remuneration of experts hired by the Board.
- Proposing the clearing and settlement mechanism between relevant agencies.
- Overseeing the drafting of the Authority’s budget, annual report, and final account, and submitting the same to the Board.
- Issuing payment orders for Authority expenditures within the approved annual budget.
- Issuing licenses and permits for engaging in Sector-related activities in coordination with relevant agencies, and in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Board.
- Collecting revenues, whether directly, through clearance, or through payment, and developing collection procedures.
- Conducting studies necessary for the incorporation of companies, the participation in their incorporation, the holding of shares therein, or the entry into partnerships or consortiums.
- Appointing and supervising Authority employees, in accordance with his powers and Authority regulations.
- Recruiting qualified individuals on a temporary or permanent basis as required by the Authority.
- Approving scholarship and training programs within the Kingdom or abroad for Authority employees, in accordance with Authority regulations.
- Providing the Board with periodic reports on the Authority’s work progress.
- Representing the Authority before judicial and administrative authorities, and other agencies.
- Exercising powers vested in him pursuant to Board decisions and the provisions of this Statute.
The President of the Authority may delegate and assign some of his powers and duties to any Authority employee.
Article (9): Authority employees shall be subject to the Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.
Article (10): Authority financial resources are as follows:
- Allocations in the State budget.
- Fees for any product, service, license, or permit provided or issued by the Authority.
- Movable and immovable assets at its disposal or received from other entities.
- Returns on Authority investments.
- Gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments approved by the Board.
- Any other resource approved by the Board in accordance with the law.
Article (11):
The Authority shall have an independent annual budget issued pursuant to a royal decree.
Article (12): Authority funds shall be deposited in the current account of the Ministry of Finance opened with the Saudi Central Bank. The Authority may open accounts with banks licensed to operate in the Kingdom. Any payment from such accounts shall be made in accordance with the Authority’s approved budget.
Article (13): The Authority’s fiscal year shall be that of the State.
Article (14): The Authority shall submit its annual final account to the Council of Ministers within 90 days from the end of the fiscal year, and a copy thereof shall be provided to the General Court of Audit.
Article (15): Without prejudice to the right of the General Court of Audit to audit the Authority’s accounts, the Board shall appoint one or more external auditors of natural or legal personality licensed to practice in the Kingdom and determine their fees. The auditor’s report shall be submitted to the Board.
Article (16): This Statute shall supersede the Statute of the General Commission for Survey issued pursuant to Council of Ministers Resolution No. (8), dated 14/1/1427H, and shall repeal all provisions conflicting therewith.
Article (17): This Statute shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall enter into force 90 days following the date of its publication.