Article 50 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 50 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Classifying an urban heritage building or site obliges the State to protect it, or to share in protecting it if privately owned; it must be maintained and operated without altering its elements, and harm to it from the protection zone is prohibited.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يترتب على تصنيف مبنى أو موقع تراث عمراني ضمن سجل الآثار ما يأتي:
1 - التزام الدولة بحمايته والمحافظة عليه وتطويره إذا كان ملكاً لها، والمشاركة في جهود حمايته والمحافظة عليه وتطويره إذا كان ملكاً للقطاع الخاص، ونزع ملكيته لمصلحة الدولة إذا كانت ظروف حمايته غير متوافرة، وذلك وفقاً للإجراءات المنصوص عليها في نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمنفعة العامة ووضع اليد المؤقت على العقار.
2 - ضرورة صيانته وترميمه وتشغيله بما يتناسب مع طبيعته، وذلك دون تغيير في أي عنصر من عناصره إلا بالقدر اللازم لعملية التشغيل.
3 - منع إحداث أي تغيير في منطقة الحماية يؤدي إلى تعرضه لأضرار، أو تشويه، أو إعاقة تشغيله، أو استعماله.
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 50 explained in plain English
This article explains the consequences of classifying an urban heritage building or site in the antiquities register.
1 – The role of the State:
- If it is State-owned: the State is obliged to protect, preserve and develop it.
- If it is privately owned: the State shares in the efforts to protect, preserve and develop it.
- If the conditions for protecting it are not available: it may be expropriated for the benefit of the State under the procedures of the Law of Expropriation of Real Estate for the Public Interest and Temporary Seizure of Real Estate.
2 – Maintenance and operation: it must be maintained, restored and operated in a manner suited to its nature, without changing any of its elements except to the extent necessary for operation.
3 – The protection zone: making any change in the protection zone that exposes the building or site to damage or disfigurement, or obstructs its operation or use, is prohibited.
This means classifying a privately owned building does not automatically transfer its ownership to the State, but it places restrictions on changing it and makes the State a partner in protecting it. Expropriation happens only where the conditions for protection are not available, and under the procedures of the expropriation law. Anyone who owns a classified building would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate matters.
Practical example
Saud owns a classified mud-brick house in Diriyah and wants to operate it as a cafe. He may operate it in a manner suited to its nature, but he may not change any of its elements except to the extent necessary for operation, and the State shares in efforts to protect and preserve it.
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 50 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Will the State expropriate a classified heritage building?
It may be expropriated for the benefit of the State if the conditions for protecting it are not available, under the procedures of the Law of Expropriation of Real Estate for the Public Interest.
Does the State help the owner of a privately owned heritage building?
If it is privately owned, the State shares in the efforts to protect, preserve and develop it.
Can a classified heritage building be modified?
No element of it may be changed except to the extent necessary for operation.
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.