Article 46 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 46 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
The protection zone for immovable urban and archaeological heritage is set at 200 meters around the boundaries of the classified building or site and may be changed by decision of the President, and protection zones may be created in cities and villages.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تحدد منطقة حمايــة التراث العمراني والأثري الثابت بمسافة (مائتي) متر حول الحدود المباشرة للمبنى أو الموقع المصنف، وبخاصة الجهة التي تقع عليها واجهة المبنى أو الموقع، ويتم تحديد ضوابط منطقة الحماية واشتراطاتها بالتنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية، ويمكن تمديد تلك المنطقة أو تقليصها بقرار من الرئيس بالتنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية والجهات ذات العلاقة.
2- يتم إحداث وتحديد منطقة حماية للتراث العمراني في المدن والقرى إذا كانت لها أهمية تاريخية، أو ثقافية، أو فنية، أو علمية تسوغ المحافظة عليها، ويصدر بذلك قرار من الرئيس - بالتنسيق مع وزارة الداخلية ووزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية - يتضمن مخطط حماية التراث العمراني وتنميته. ويمكن إلغاء التصنيف الكلي أو الجزئي لمنطقة الحماية بقرار من الرئيس.
3- يمكن تغيير منطقة الحماية بإشراف الهيئة، وبقرار من الرئيس - بعد التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة - وذلك في حدود مقتضيات حماية الأثر المعماري المصنف عند وضع المخططات العمرانية الهيكلية والتصاميم العمرانية المفصلة أو مراجعتها، على أن تستوعب مقتضيات حدود منطقة الحماية ضمن الوثائق المذكورة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 46 explained in plain English
This article sets the protection zone around classified buildings and sites.
Paragraph (1) – The distance:
- The protection zone for immovable urban and archaeological heritage is set at 200 meters around the immediate boundaries of the classified building or site, especially on the side of the facade.
- The zone's controls and requirements are set in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
- It may be extended or reduced by decision of the President, in coordination with the Ministry and the relevant bodies.
Paragraph (2) – Protection zones in cities and villages: an urban heritage protection zone is created in cities and villages that have historical, cultural, artistic or scientific importance justifying their preservation, by decision of the President in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, including a plan for the protection and development of urban heritage. Their classification may be cancelled in whole or in part by decision of the President.
Paragraph (3) – Change during planning: the protection zone may be changed under the supervision of the Authority and by decision of the President after coordinating with the relevant bodies, within the requirements of protecting the classified architectural monument, when urban plans are drawn up or reviewed, provided the boundaries of the protection zone are accommodated in them.
The distance stated is the baseline, but it can be changed by decision of the President. Anyone who owns land within this distance would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate matters before building.
Practical example
Adel owns land about 150 meters from the facade of a classified heritage palace in Riyadh. The land is inside the protection zone set at 200 meters, so the zone's controls and requirements apply to it, unless the President issues a decision reducing the zone.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 46 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What is the distance of the protection zone around a heritage building?
200 meters around the immediate boundaries of the classified building or site, especially the side on which the facade lies.
Can the protection zone be reduced?
Yes. It can be extended or reduced by decision of the President in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the relevant bodies.
Who sets the building requirements in a protection zone?
The zone's controls and requirements are set in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
More articles on Urban Heritage and Its Protection Zone
- Article 9
The Authority sets antiquities and urban heritage sites in coordination with the relevant bodies; they must be preserved in city plans, and building or restoration permits next to them are issued only in agreement with the Authority.
1- تحدد الهيئة مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، وتنسق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية، والجهات المعنية الأخرى - كل فيما يخصه - في شأن ذلك. 2 - تجب المحافظة على م
- Article 18
The article requires whoever owns or controls a registered antiquity or urban heritage site to preserve it, requires a Commission license to invest in or operate it, obliges the investor to maintain it, and allows a charge for visits.
1- على الشخص الذي يقع في ملكيته أو تحت سلطته أثر أو موقع تراث عمراني مسجل في سجل الآثار، أو التراث العمراني؛ المحافظة عليه. 2 - لا يجوز استثمار الأثر وموقع التر
- Article 24
The article requires the Commission's prior approval for demolition, utility connections and new work inside archaeological and urban heritage sites, requires it to reply within 60 days, and subjects the work to its monitoring.
1 - لا يجوز القيام بأي من الأعمال الآتية داخل حدود مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني إلا بعد الحصول على موافقةٍ مسبقةٍ من الهيئة: أ - أعمال الهدم الكلي، أو الجزئي.
- Article 45
The Authority creates the urban heritage register and classifies its buildings and sites into categories A, B and C; classification covers the building, its fittings and surrounding urban and natural areas, and registration may be cancelled.
1 - تضع الهيئة سجلاً يسمى (سجل التراث العمراني)؛ تسجل فيه جميع مواقع ومباني التراث العمراني ومناطقه، وتكون درجات التصنيف على النحو الآتي: الفئة (أ) المباني والم
- Article 47
The Authority, in coordination with the bodies concerned, prepares the urban heritage protection and development plan that identifies classified buildings and rules for intervention, and building regulations apply to its buildings unless they conflict with protection.
1- تقوم الهيئة - بعد التنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية والجهات ذات العلاقة - بإعداد وتطوير مخطط حماية التراث العمراني وتنميته، وفق برنامج حماية وتطوير وت
- Article 48
When structural urban plans and detailed designs are prepared, the protection of classified buildings and sites must be observed, and registered antiquities and heritage and their protection zones must be included in city plans.
يجب - عند إعداد المخططات العمرانية الهيكلية، أو التصاميم العمرانية المفصلة - الالتزام بمقتضيات حماية المباني، والمواقع المصنفة، وتدرج الآثار الثابتة المسجلة في
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.