Bandar A. Al-Nuaim
2 of 17
1
Introduction &
Background
4
LUP and
Government
Regulations
2
Study Goals
5
Global
Government
Policies
(U.S Case, UK Case)
7
Influence of Polices
(Agriculture, Economic,
Sustainability, Climate Change,
Urban & Rural)
Presentation Contents
3
Theoretical
Framework
6
LUP and
Government
Policies in KSA
8
Recommendations
3 of 17

Land has become a scarce resource worldwide
due to competition increasing for various uses.

The ever-increasing population is the primary
cause of the observed land scarcity.
1 Introduction & Background

The oil boom in Saudi Arabia in the early 1970s
led to mushrooming of many cities and towns.

Uncoordinated
urban
growth,
illegal
acquisitions of land, as well as unauthorized
settlements characterized urban areas.

The authorities responded to the problem of
irregular urban growth through generating
development plans.

poor coordination among the government
agencies responsible for planning was the
major inhibitory factor.
1 Introduction & Background
4 of 17


The central aim of this study is to investigate the government
policies and regulations that affect Land-Use planning in Saudi
Arabia.
To this end, the following objectives will guide the study:
To review the
general concept of
land use planning
2 Study Goal
To investigate the
influence of
government policy
on land use
planning in
different countries
To analyze Saudi
Arabia’s
government
policies and
regulations that
influence land
planning in the
country.
5 of 15
6 of 17

The current study grounds the discussion on a
conceptual framework adopted from Clark (6-8), whose
land use change model conceptualizes land within the
economic theory.

Here, allocation or trade of land resources follows the
market mechanism. The role of the government is to
intervene, which Clark (7) argues may result in
positives or negatives.

Policy-makers play an important role in this framework,
since they determine how the government will intervene
on land use change.
3 Theoretical Framework
Managing land-use is a dynamic and complex process.
 Numerous factors interact at various levels making the
management process complicated.
 These factors include economic activities, migration,
population
growth,
government
policies,
and
employment.
 land-use planning motivates participants, as well as
those affected by land-use decisions with an aim of
attaining a balance between various interests at hand.
 Land-use
planning develops the capacities of
participants at the grassroots level. By engaging
communities on how to use their land resources
efficiently.

4 LUP and Government Regulations
7 of 17
8 of 17







United States lacks a national land-use planning law.
What exist in the United States are policies formulated by
the individual states and local governments.
The only attempt, was the National Land-use Policy Act of
1970 (Kayden 448).
This Act proposed the establishment of a national policy that
would have mandated the participation of different states in
the federal management, planning and administration of land
resources.
After the formulation of a national policy on land-use, the
different states received constitutionally empowerment “to
plan and regulate the use and development of land” (Kayden
449).
The states have authority to enact laws aimed at enabling
and guiding local governments on the adoption of local landuse plans, as well as regulations.
Thereafter, states began using zoning and city planning to
regulate land-use in the country.
5 Global Government Policies and Regulations
9 of 17






In the UK, according to the Department of Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (DEFRA), land-use and planning concerns four key
components.
These are planning permission, permitted development,
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and planning policy
statements.
The government uses these in controlling development within the
country.
In case developers propose changes to the use of a parcel of land,
they seek the planning permission from a local authority.
Depending on the requirements set, the concerned authority only
grants permission after the developer satisfies all the set
conditions.
These conditions could include the central government’s national
policy, and other issues like plot layout, size, landscaping,
accessibility, water supply, and impact on the neighborhood.
5 Global Government Policies and Regulations
10 of 17




Saudi Arabia lacks a comprehensive and integrated
policy meaning that the existing ones do not adequately
cover matters relating to land-use.
there is poor coordination among the different
government agencies responsible for physical and
urban planning, development, as well as environmental
conservation.
Many at times, government agencies do not involve the
public in the formulation of land-use policies.
This lack of public participation in this crucial planning
process hinders the formulation of policies that are
socially acceptable and sustainable-development
oriented.
6 LUP and Government Policies in KSA


The study analyzes the findings on government policy
influence on land planning in Saudi Arabia through the
market framework-government intervention theoretical
framework.
the government actions include
Factor Affecting Parcel/in Land Use A
Government Activities
Amenities

Disamenities

Public Transit

Econ. Growth Efforts

Subsidies

Government Land Use

Conversion Fee’s

Rezoning of Parcel/ for Land Use A
Release Government Land for Use A
7 Influence Polices
Impact on Demand or Supply for
Parcel/in Land Use A
Demand 
Demand 
Demand 
Demand 
Demand 
Demand 
Demand 
Supply 
Supply 
11 of 17
Influence of Agricultural Policies
 Government policies over the years have resulted in
amenities such as irrigation, electric power and
distribution systems.
 Such amenities have resulted in land planning towards
modern large-scale farming.
 The government’s focus on agriculture has led to
rezoning of land through inhibition of traditional farming.
 This has also contributed to redistribution of land
towards modernized agriculture.
 In both cases, the government’s agricultural policy has
led to change in land planning both directly and
indirectly.
7 Influence Polices
12 of 17
Influence of Economic Policies
 Saudi Arabia has instituted several economic policies
that have affected land planning.
 the economic policies sought to promote oil exploration
and production.
 This focus oil exploration and production contributed to
the sedenterization of traditional land.
 Overall, economic policies have resulted in land
planning towards the promotion of industrial,
commercial and residential use.
7 Influence Polices
13 of 17
Influence of Sustainability Policies
 The government of Saudi Arabia, appreciating the
precarious nature of land resources in the country, has
put in place sustainability measures such as
environmental impact assessments and ministerial
action based on the General Environmental Code.
 Ultimately, such sustainability policies determine how
land is distributed and used.
7 Influence Polices
14 of 17
Influence of Climate Change Policies
 The government of Saudi Arabia also realizes that the
country’s socio-economic and political well-being
directly links to the direction of climate change.
 As a result, climate change concerns influence the
government regulations on agriculture, forestry and
rangelands.
 In terms of the climate policy and agriculture, the
government instituted the Agricultural Strategy that
seeks to ensure agricultural activities do not negatively
affect climate change.
7 Influence Polices
15 of 17
Urban and Rural Influences
 The adoption of modern technologies supported by the
government in Saudi cities indirectly influence urban
land planning.
 Such automated systems revolutionize how land
planning is undertaken and streamline sustainability
assessments.
7 Influence Polices
16 of 17
17 of 17




The government should develop a comprehensive land
planning policy.
The Saudi government should pursue agro-forestry as
a means to meet government objectives in agriculture
and fighting desertification.
The concerned ministries and departments should
evaluate the planned economic expansion, as
manifested by plans for megacities and massive
transport corridors for their impact on the Saudi
ecosystem.
Land planning should be decentralized to provincial,
municipal and rural levels to ensure the views of the
people are considered.
7 Recommendations