Shoura to vote on new housing plan

The Shoura Council will vote on the recommendations of the Housing and Services Committee at its 53rd session in Riyadh on Monday.
The recommendations include a request to the Housing Ministry to put forward its time schedule for providing affordable housing for citizens.
The council will also vote on a recommendation asking the ministry to separate the waiting lists on its Web portal in order to expedite the granting of loans for citizens wishing to buy a residential unit through private real estate agents.

The committee also asked that the ministry coordinate with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and other related bodies to develop flexible urban designs to boost population density in major cities where land for construction is not available.
The committee called on the ministry to address the shortfall in its manpower by filling the vacancies and cooperating with the private sector to provide the specialist experience it needs.

The Shoura will also discuss during the same session the report of the financial committee concerning the draft agreement between Saudi Arabia and Romania on the conditions for value added tax waivers for diplomats of the two countries.
Other issues on the Shoura’s agenda include the security affairs report, the energy and economy committee report and the annual report of the Public Pension Agency.

Housing Minister Majid Al-Hogail confirmed the continuous work of his ministry, under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to provide a balanced housing environment with sustainable results which will enable citizens to own suitable and decent houses.

“This will be done through the creation and development of a number of programs and plans that will encourage the private and public sectors to engage in mutual cooperation and partnership so as to yield positive results for citizens in the housing sector,” he said.