Article 47 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 47 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تقوم الهيئة - بعد التنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية والجهات ذات العلاقة - بإعداد وتطوير مخطط حماية التراث العمراني وتنميته، وفق برنامج حماية وتطوير وتنمية شامل ومتكامل للمنطقة المعنية.
2- تحدد في مخطط حماية التراث العمراني المباني والمواقع المصنفة، وتوجهات الحماية ومقتضياتها، والارتفاقات، وضوابط أساليب التدخل، ويشمل ذلك: الترميم، والتأهيل العمراني، والتجديد العمراني، وأنظمة البناء، ومحددات استعمالات الأراضي، وطرق التدخل في المباني، وتحديد الارتفاعات، ومخططات النقل، والسير، والخدمات، وغيرها.
3- يجوز تطبيق أنظمــة البناء والمواصفات الخاصة بالمباني علــى مباني التراث العمراني ومواقعه المصنفة، إلا إذا كـان تطبيقها يتعارض مع مقتضيات التصنيف أو الحماية.
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 47 explained in plain English
This article regulates the urban heritage protection and development plan.
Paragraph (1) – Preparation: the Authority, after coordinating with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the relevant bodies, prepares and develops this plan, under a comprehensive and integrated protection, development and improvement program for the area concerned.
Paragraph (2) – Content: the plan identifies:
- The classified buildings and sites.
- The directions and requirements of protection, and easements.
- Controls on methods of intervention, including: restoration, urban rehabilitation, urban renewal, building regulations, land-use restrictions, methods of intervention in buildings, height limits, transport, traffic and services plans, and so on.
Paragraph (3) – Building regulations: building regulations and specifications for buildings may be applied to classified urban heritage buildings and sites, unless applying them conflicts with the requirements of classification or protection.
The last paragraph matters in practice; the general building regulations may require specifications that do not suit a heritage building, and in that case the requirements of protection take precedence. The protection plan is the reference showing what is and is not permitted in the area, such as heights and land uses.
Article 46 complements this rule by providing that the decision creating a protection zone in cities and villages includes the urban heritage protection and development plan, and Article 48 requires compliance with the protection requirements for classified buildings and sites when preparing structural urban plans and detailed designs.
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 47 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What does the urban heritage protection plan contain?
The classified buildings and sites, the directions of protection, easements, and controls on intervention such as restoration, rehabilitation, building regulations, land uses, heights, and transport and services plans.
Do ordinary building regulations apply to heritage buildings?
They may be applied to classified buildings and sites, unless applying them conflicts with the requirements of classification or protection.
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 46
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.
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
- 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.