The Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, Engineer Abdul Latif Al-Mashari, has ratified the decisions of the Municipal Council meeting held on December 8, 2025, with the exception of three items.

Al-Mashari approved the Council’s decision to set the end of the 2027–2028 academic year as the final deadline for cancelling municipal approvals and licenses issued to private schools operating in private residential areas. These schools will be closed by the Ministry of Education after the deadline.

In his ratification, Al-Mashari added a paragraph stipulating that sites allocated to private schools may not be handed over unless approval is obtained from the Directorate-General of Traffic and a traffic study approved by the competent authorities is submitted, reports Al-Rai daily.

The Municipal Council had previously approved amendments to three clauses related to the relocation of private schools from private residential areas, setting the evacuation deadline at the end of the 2027–2028 academic year, after the Ministry of Education completes the identification of alternative locations for the schools.

The original decision, issued on November 13, 2023, stipulated the evacuation and closure of all private schools located in private residential areas three calendar years after the completion of allocation procedures and the issuance of building permits, provided that construction begins within one year of site allocation and receipt.

The minister did not approve the following three decisions:

Car Washing and Polishing Activity — A proposal by the Vice President of the Municipal Council, Khaled Mufleh Al-Mutairi, to add car washing and polishing activities to the permitted uses in Abu Futaira, Al-Qurain Markets and Al-Ardhiya Crafts areas, due to its contradiction with technical opinion.

Sidewalk Use for Refreshments and Water Coolers – A decision to allow licensing for the exploitation of sidewalk space to place refreshment and water coolers for grocery, food supply and central food market activities by amending Ministerial Decision No. (30/2021). The proposal was deferred for further study and possible inclusion in the road occupancy regulations project prepared by the executive body.

Temporary Entrance to Rumaithiya Area — A proposal by member Nasser Al-Jadaan to create a temporary entrance to Rumaithiya from the Fahaheel Road service road opposite Block 12, with the Ministry of Public Works authorized to prepare the final design and coordinate with the Ministry of Interior. The proposal was rejected due to its violation of technical opinion, as outlined in the executive body’s letter.