New Conditions and Regulations for Investing Health Ministry Sites

Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued Ministerial Decision No. (326) of 2026 concerning the amendment of the regulations governing the controls and conditions for the investment and utilization of sites belonging to the Ministry of Health by third parties. This decision establishes a new regulatory framework for investment procedures, tendering mechanisms, follow-up, and supervision, ensuring the proper utilization of the Ministry’s sites and enhancing the utilization of their financial returns for the development of health services. It restricts leasing to public auctions and sets controls defining the authorities of competent entities and investors. Its provisions are as follows:

Article One: The following terms used in these regulations shall have the meanings indicated below:

(a) The Ministry: The Ministry of Health.

(b) The Minister: The Minister of Health.

(c) Sites: Large areas of space or vacant areas owned by the Ministry in accordance with systems, laws, and instructions.

(d) Investment: The employment and operation of sites belonging to the Ministry with the aim of preserving and developing them, and utilizing their financial returns to provide and develop services.

(e) Public Auction: Leasing sites belonging to the Ministry with the aim of achieving the highest price by inviting the largest possible number of investors to participate.

(f) Investor: A natural or legal person(s) entitled to conduct commercial and investment activities in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Ministry of Commerce.

Article Two: The General Services Administration (Services Affairs Sector) shall be responsible for the following duties and tasks regarding the follow-up of the investment and utilization of all sites belonging to the Ministry of Health by third parties, in coordination with the relevant entities within the Ministry:

1. Receiving requests from Health Regions and Departments regarding the utilization of sites for approved activities, and requests received from investors wishing to invest in one of the Ministry’s sites, for study and appropriate action.

2. Following up on bidding contracts concluded with investors to ensure their compliance with the conditions and terms of the auction.

3. Following up on payments due from investors to the Ministry and ensuring their compliance with required payments according to the conditions and terms of the bidding contract, in coordination with Financial Affairs.

4. Preparing the terms and specifications documents for auctions in coordination with relevant departments.

Article Three: All necessary procedures shall be taken to obtain approvals from state supervisory authorities for all documents and contracts related to the investment and utilization of sites by third parties, in accordance with the procedures and laws governing this matter, in coordination with the Financial Affairs Agency.

Article Four: Approval of an investment project is subject to the following conditions:

1. Any entity wishing to invest in or utilize sites must submit a request to the General Services Administration.

2. The request must specify the total area of the site to be invested in.

3. The type of activity for which investment is sought must be specified.

4. The estimated value of the investment must be determined.

5. The investment must be in one of the activities attached to the accompanying table.

6. A brief study of the project and the type of activity must be submitted.

7. A sketch plan showing the location and area of the project must be provided.

Article Five: New activities other than those specified in item (5) of Article Four of this decision may be added based on a recommendation from the Services Sector and approval by the Minister.

Article Six: The same activity may not be repeated by more than one investor, nor may other activities or additional areas be added, except upon recommendation from the Services Sector and approval by the Minister.

Article Seven: Health Regions, Departments, or any entity may not invest in any activities on their own initiative except in accordance with the controls and conditions stipulated in these regulations.

Article Eight: Employees of the Ministry and their relatives within the first and second degrees are prohibited from applying to invest in sites belonging to the Ministry.

Article Nine: The General Services Administration shall receive requests from Regions and Departments regarding investment and prepare the bidding terms and specifications documents, with a view to sending them to the Financial Affairs Agency to conduct the auction tendering process in accordance with the circular issued by the Ministry of Finance on this matter.

Article Ten: The General Services Administration shall study the bids submitted by investors and issue the necessary recommendation for awarding the contract, with a view to sending it to the Financial Affairs Agency to complete contracting procedures in accordance with the regulations and systems established for this purpose. The Administration shall also follow up on the implementation of contracts throughout their validity period through periodic and surprise inspections of all sites covered by contracts, ensuring compliance with general and specific conditions, and verifying the health requirements for workers in cafeterias, in coordination and cooperation with the relevant entities within the Ministry. In the event that an investor declines to complete contracting procedures or if the contract is terminated for any reason, the General Services Administration shall have the right to re-tender the site for the same activity based on public interest requirements.

Article Eleven: The General Services Administration shall be responsible for visiting all sites belonging to the Ministry, proposing necessary activities, and presenting them to the relevant entity for site investment. If the activity is approved, the General Services Administration shall take the necessary procedures in accordance with the controls and conditions stipulated in these regulations.

Article Twelve: No site belonging to the Ministry intended for investment and utilization shall be leased except through a public auction tender.

Article Thirteen: The site utilized by the investor may not be used for purposes other than those for which it was designated.

Article Fourteen: The investor is prohibited from subleasing the utilized site to third parties, subject to the conditions stipulated in the bidding terms and specifications.

Article Fifteen: The Ministry may terminate or cancel the contract with the investor for reasons of public interest.

Article Sixteen: The contract duration shall be calculated from the date the investor receives the site from the Ministry, empty and free, pursuant to a handover report, provided that this does not exceed one month from the date of signing the contract, subject to the conditions stipulated in the bidding terms and specifications.

Article Seventeen: In the event that the investor delays signing the site handover report, they shall be notified at their fixed address with the administrative entity. The contract duration shall be calculated from the date of notification, subject to the conditions stipulated in the bidding terms and specifications.

Article Eighteen: The lease duration in the contract and its mention in the bidding terms shall be determined for each case individually, in accordance with the circular issued by the Ministry of Finance on this matter.

Article Nineteen: Health and engineering requirements, the inspection and supervision mechanism, and the responsible entity must be observed and determined when preparing the bidding terms and specifications, depending on the type of activity.

Article Twenty: These regulations apply to all sites owned or utilized by the Ministry.

Article Twenty-One: This decision shall be notified to whom it concerns for implementation and shall take effect from its date. Decision No. 44 of 2025 or any provision conflicting with the provisions of this decision is hereby repealed, and it shall be published in the Official Gazette.