Bandar A. Al-Nuaim

1. Effect of Government Policies on Land-Use Planning: The Case of Saudi Arabia Bandar A. Al-Nuaim

2. 2of 17 Presentation Contents

3. 3of 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

4. 4of 17 • 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

5. 5of 15 • 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: 2 Study Goal

6. 6of 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

7. 7of 17 • 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

8. 8of 17 US Case • 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 land-use 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. 9of 17 UK Case • 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. 10of 17 Saudi Arabia • 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

11. 11of 17 • 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 7 Influence Polices

12. 12of 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

13. 13of 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

14. 14of 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

15. 15of 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

16. 16of 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

17. 17of 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