Article 9 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 9 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني عند وضع مشروعات تخطيط المدن والقرى، أو توسيعها، أو تجميلها، كما تجب مراعاة حقوق الارتفاق لها، ومنها إيجاد منطقة حماية غير مبنية حول هذه المواقع بالتنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية، ولا يجوز إقرار مشروعات التخطيط التي فيها - أو في نطاقها - مواقع آثار أو تراث عمراني إلا بعد أخذ موافقة الهيئة.
3 - لا يجوز إصدار رخص البناء أو الترميم في الأماكن المجاورة لمواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني المحددة إلا بعد الاتفاق مع الهيئة.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article links protecting sites with urban planning.
Paragraph (1): the Commission defines antiquities and urban heritage sites, and coordinates on this with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the other concerned authorities, each within its remit.
Paragraph (2) - planning:
- These sites must be preserved when drawing up projects for planning, expanding or beautifying cities and villages.
- Their easement rights must be observed, including creating an unbuilt protection zone around the sites in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
- Planning projects that contain antiquities or urban heritage sites, or have them within their scope, may not be approved except after obtaining the Commission's approval.
Paragraph (3) - building and restoration permits: building or restoration permits may not be issued in places adjoining defined antiquities and urban heritage sites except after agreement with the Commission.
The article does not state the area of the protection zone or the distance meant by "adjoining," so no particular figure should be assumed from this text. In practice, someone who owns land near a defined archaeological or heritage site may find that the permit application requires the municipality to agree with the Commission before it is issued. To learn the position of a particular property, a lawyer specializing in real estate matters can be consulted.
Practical example
Abdulrahman applied for a building permit for land next to a defined urban heritage site in Al-Ahsa. Under this article, the municipality may not issue the permit except after agreement with the Commission.
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 9 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Do I need the Antiquities Commission's approval to build a house near an archaeological site?
Building or restoration permits may not be issued in places adjoining defined antiquities and urban heritage sites except after agreement with the Commission.
Is there a protection zone around archaeological sites?
Easement rights must be observed, including creating an unbuilt protection zone around them in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
Can a plan containing an archaeological site be approved?
Planning projects that contain antiquities or urban heritage sites, or have them within their scope, may not be approved except after obtaining the Commission's approval.
More articles on Protecting Archaeological Sites from Encroachment
- Article 6
The article prohibits encroaching on, altering, damaging or defacing archaeological and urban heritage sites in any way, and bars placing signs and advertising on them without the Commission's approval.
1- يحظر التعدي على مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، أو تحويرها، أو إزالتها، أو إلحاق الضرر بها، أو تشويهها بالكتابة، أو الطلاء، أو النقش، أو إلصاق الإعلانات عليها
- Article 10
Grant and distribution decisions may not be applied to archaeological and urban heritage sites agreed upon with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and the ministries coordinate with the Commission when preparing grant and agricultural plans.
1- يمنع تطبيق قرارات المنح والتوزيع على مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني المتفق عليها مع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية. 2 - تنسق وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية ووزا
- Article 11
Dangerous facilities may not be built near fixed antiquities except with the Commission's approval, and the regulations set the controls for this.
لا تجوز إقامة منشآت خطرة بالقرب من الآثار الثابتة إلا بموافقة الهيئة، وتبين اللوائح الضوابط الخاصة بذلك.
- Article 13
The Commission coordinates with the Ministry of Interior and the related authorities to set a mechanism ensuring the protection of archaeological and urban heritage sites.
تنسق الهيئة مع وزارة الداخلية، والجهات ذات العلاقة لوضع آلية تكفل حماية مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني.
- Article 22
Making changes in archaeological and urban heritage sites, using their rubble, or taking soil, stones or any other material from them is not permitted except with the Commission's approval and under its supervision.
لا يجوز الإحداث في مواقع الآثار والتراث العمراني، أو استعمال الأنقاض التي فيها، أو أخذ أتربة أو أحجار أو أي مادة أخرى منها، إلا بموافقة الهيئة وتحت إشرافها.
- 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.
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.