MOMAH outlines financial rewards system for whistleblowers of municipal violations

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) headquarters

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) clarified the mechanism for granting financial rewards to whistleblowers of violations of the municipal penalties' regulation.

This is part of MOMAH’s integrated regulatory framework that is aimed at empowering the local municipal sector, strengthening community oversight, and improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities, according to a ministerial statement today, Nov. 5.

It explained that the mechanism seeks to engage community members in reporting municipal violations — especially those related to visual pollution — through the Certified Observer Initiative, which serves as an innovative monitoring tool that relies on digital technologies.

Community members will be trained and qualified to obtain the title of "Certified Observer", by registering through the Balady platform and completing an approved training course under specific conditions, it added.

The ministry also noted that financial incentives will be disbursed to whistleblowers based on the severity of the violation, the difficulty of detecting it, and the effort involved.

Rewards could reach up to 25% of the total value of the recorded violation, under a strict governance system that ensures transparency and prevents duplicate or repetitive reports.

According to data available with Argaam, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, approved yesterday granting financial rewards to whistleblowers of violations of the municipal penalties' regulation.