Article 53 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 53 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Transferring ownership of classified heritage buildings and sites owned by the State to private persons, or selling or leasing those owned by the private sector, requires the Authority's approval, and the new owner must comply with the conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بالنصوص النظامية ذات العلاقة:
1 - لا يجوز نقل ملكية المباني أو مواقع التراث العمراني المصنفة التي تملكها الدولة؛ إلى الأشخاص الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية الخاصة، بأي شكل من أشكال نقل الملكية، إلا بعد الحصول على موافقة الهيئة، ويلتزم المشتري أو المالك الجديد بشروط التصنيف المبينة في هذا النظام ولوائحه.
2 - يجوز بيع أو تأجير مباني ومواقع التراث العمراني المصنفة التي يملكها القطاع الخاص، أو نقل ملكيتها، بعد الحصول على موافقة الهيئة، ويلتزم المالك الجديد أو المستأجر بشروط البيع أو نقل الملكية أو التأجير التي تحددها اللوائح.
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 53 explained in plain English
This article regulates the transfer of ownership and leasing of classified heritage buildings and sites, without prejudice to the relevant statutory provisions.
Paragraph (1) - what the State owns:
- Ownership of it may not be transferred to private natural or legal persons, in any form of transfer of ownership, except after the Authority's approval.
- The buyer or new owner must comply with the classification conditions set out in the Law and its regulations.
Paragraph (2) - what the private sector owns:
- It may be sold, leased or have its ownership transferred after the Authority's approval.
- The new owner or tenant must comply with the conditions of sale, transfer of ownership or lease set by the regulations.
Note that the provision concerns classified buildings and sites, that the Authority's approval is a condition in both cases, and that the obligations pass with the property to the new owner or tenant. The phrase "without prejudice to the relevant statutory provisions" means that this article does not cancel other provisions governing the sale of State property or dealing in real estate.
In practice, someone buying or leasing a classified heritage building needs to verify the Authority's approval and to know the obligations that will pass to them. Before concluding the contract, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases.
Practical example
A company in Taif wants to lease a classified heritage house owned by a citizen in order to turn it into an exhibition. The lease may only be made after the Authority's approval, and the tenant company must comply with the conditions of lease set by the regulations.
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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Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Qarawi Law and Notary Office, Riyadh
Frequently asked questions about Article 53 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
May I sell a classified heritage building that I own?
Classified urban heritage buildings and sites owned by the private sector may be sold, leased or have their ownership transferred after obtaining the Authority's approval.
Can a heritage building be bought from the State?
Ownership of classified heritage buildings or sites owned by the State may not be transferred to private persons except after the Authority's approval, and the new owner must comply with the classification conditions.
Does a tenant of a heritage building have to comply with particular conditions?
Yes. The tenant must comply with the conditions of lease set by the regulations.
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.