Article 48 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 48 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب - عند إعداد المخططات العمرانية الهيكلية، أو التصاميم العمرانية المفصلة - الالتزام بمقتضيات حماية المباني، والمواقع المصنفة، وتدرج الآثار الثابتة المسجلة في سجل الآثار، ومباني التراث العمراني والشعبي ومواقـعهما، والمواقع التاريخية المصنفة، ومنطقـة الحماية التابعة لها ضمن المخططات الهيكلية والتفصيلية لتنظيم المدن، ومخططات حماية التراث العمراني وتطويره.
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 48 explained in plain English
This article addresses the bodies concerned with urban planning, and requires two things of them when preparing plans:
First – Complying with protection requirements: when structural urban plans or detailed urban designs are prepared, the requirements for protecting classified buildings and sites must be observed.
Second – Inclusion in the plans: the following are included in the structural and detailed plans for organizing cities, and in the urban heritage protection and development plans:
- Immovable antiquities registered in the antiquities register.
- Urban and folk heritage buildings and their sites.
- Classified historic sites.
- The protection zone belonging to them.
The aim is that protected sites and their protection zones appear in the planning documents themselves, so they are not discovered after the plan is approved or during implementation.
This rule works together with Article 47, which tasks the Authority with preparing the urban heritage protection and development plan and sets its content, and with Article 49, which provides that the decision creating an urban heritage protection and development zone results in integrating protection plans into the structural and detailed urban plans.
The article is addressed mainly to the planning bodies, but it helps property owners to know that approved plans are expected to show the protected sites.
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 48 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Do archaeological sites appear in city plans?
Registered immovable antiquities, urban and folk heritage buildings and their sites, classified historic sites and their protection zones are included in the structural and detailed plans for organizing cities.
What is required when urban plans are prepared?
Observing the requirements for protecting classified buildings and sites, and including registered antiquities and heritage and their protection zones in the plans.
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 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
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.