The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing confirmed the availability of the service for issuing building occupancy certificates electronically via the "Balady" platform, enabling beneficiaries to complete building finalization procedures and obtain the certificate without needing to visit municipal authorities, as part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to develop digital services, enhance the efficiency of municipal services, and improve the beneficiary experience.

The ministry explained that the occupancy certificate is an official document confirming the actual completion of the building in accordance with the approved license and requirements, and represents one of the key stages in the building journey, enabling the beneficiary to complete procedures related to the property and benefit from related services with ease and convenience.

It clarified that obtaining the occupancy certificate is done through the "Balady" platform via easy electronic steps, starting with selecting the user role and submitting a new request, then specifying the type of owner and applicant, choosing the building permit for which the occupancy certificate is to be issued, followed by selecting the approved engineering office and sending the request to it to complete the technical requirements, prepare the necessary engineering report, and upload it electronically through the platform.

It added that the secretariat reviews the request, verifies it on site, and approves the certificate after completing the technical procedures and paying the fees, after which the occupancy certificate is issued immediately and made available to the beneficiary for printing and use without the need to visit municipal or secretariat offices.

The ministry pointed out that among the key requirements for issuing an occupancy certificate are having a building permit that was issued six months or more ago and for which no occupancy certificate has been previously issued, paying the service fees and outstanding dues, in addition to contracting with an approved engineering office for non-residential uses, and fulfilling the insurance document against hidden defects according to the relevant regulations. It confirmed that "Balady" proactively issues the building compliance certificate as soon as the procedures for issuing the occupancy certificate are completed and fees are paid, without the need to submit a separate request, contributing to streamlining procedures, accelerating the beneficiary's journey, and enhancing the efficiency of the services provided.

The "Balady" platform provides a proactive notification service for beneficiaries via text messages and email, in addition to the ability to track requests and services through the beneficiary's control panel, enhancing transparency and enabling real-time monitoring of request stages.