The Supreme Authority of Riyadh Development “The Royal Commission for Riyadh City” was established by cabinet decision No. 717 on 20 June 1974 (29/05/1394H) with a mandate to develop high-level policies; create urban designs and master plans; approve and execute general plans and timelines for the development of Riyadh City, in addition to service programs and their financial requirements, approval of street widths, and other mandatory missions.

The Council of Ministers issued its resolution No. 221 dated 13 June 1983 (2/09/1403H) to merge the two offices of the Diplomatic Quarter project and the Qasr Al-Hukm District project into one function, later to be titled the Projects and Plans Center. The new entity was responsible for the executive, organizational, planning, technical, coordinative and administrative functions of the Commission at the time.

The “Development of Provinces and Cities Law” was issued by the “Council of Ministers” decree No. (475), dated 5 May 2018 (Ramadan 07, 1439H). It stipulated that “Riyadh Development Commission” is an interagency body, with a legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and that it reports directly to the Prime Minister.

The Royal Decree No. (A/470), dated 30 August 2019 (29/12/1440H), was issued, transforming the “Riyadh Development Commission” into a royal commission under the name “Royal Commission for Riyadh City”. According to the Royal Decree, the Commission shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, and its members shall be appointed by order of the Prime Minister.  Also, the responsibility for all tasks related to Riyadh National Megaprojects shall be transferred from the “Committee of National Megaprojects” to the “Royal Commission for Riyadh City”.

The Royal Decree No. (A/312), dated 26 December 2019 (29/04/1441H), was issued approving RCRC organizational arrangements and structure. It stipulated that ”the ‘Royal Commission for Riyadh City’ has a corporate personality, as well as financial and administrative independence, and is directly linked with the Prime Minister. “Also, it enjoys the supreme authority over all works, services, and projects within the geographic scope of the city, and it has the right to do everything necessary to achieve its objectives.”