Article 49 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 49 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Issuing the decision to create an urban heritage protection and development zone results in protection plans being merged into the structural and detailed urban plans, replacing them in the classified area.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يترتب على صدور قرار إحداث منطقة حماية التراث العمراني وتنميته؛ دمج مخططات حماية التراث العمراني ومقتضياتها ضمن المخططات العمرانية الهيكلية والتفصيلية، بحيث تحل محلها في المنطقة المصنفة.
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 49 explained in plain English
This article explains the planning effect of the decision creating an urban heritage protection and development zone.
- The trigger: issuance of the decision creating an urban heritage protection and development zone (see Article 46).
- The effect: urban heritage protection plans and their requirements are merged into the structural and detailed urban plans.
- The result: the protection plans replace the urban plans in the classified area.
In practice this means the reference for regulating building and use inside the classified area becomes the protection plan, not the general urban plan. If the general plan allows certain heights or uses, for example, what the protection plan decides for the classified area replaces it.
Article 48 provides that registered immovable antiquities, urban heritage buildings, classified historic sites and their protection zones must be included in the structural and detailed plans for organizing cities. The replacement is limited to the classified area and, according to the text, does not extend beyond it.
Anyone who owns property inside an area for which a protection decision has been issued would be wise to find out about the protection plan for it, and to consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate matters if needed.
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 49 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What happens after the decision creating an urban heritage protection zone is issued?
Urban heritage protection plans and their requirements are merged into the structural and detailed urban plans, and replace them in the classified area.
Does the general urban plan remain in force in the classified area?
The article provides that the protection plans replace the urban plans in the classified area.
More articles on Urban Heritage and Its Protection Zone
- Article 9
The Commission defines antiquities and urban heritage sites in coordination with the concerned authorities, they must be preserved in city planning, and building or restoration permits next to them are issued only in agreement with the Commission.
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.