Article 611 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 611 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: أحكام عامة لحق الملكية أولًا: نطاق الحق
An owner must comply, in exercising his right, with the restrictions that statutory provisions set for the public or private interest.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المالك أن يتقيَّد في استعمال حقه بما تقضي به النصوص النظامية من قيود مقررة للمصلحة العامة أو الخاصة.
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 611 explained in plain English
This article shows that the right of ownership is not absolute. The owner must comply, in exercising his right, with the restrictions required by statutory provisions.
The article mentions two kinds of these restrictions according to their purpose:
- Restrictions set for the public interest, that is, the interest of society generally.
- Restrictions set for the private interest, that is, the interest of particular persons such as neighbors.
The article does not list or detail these restrictions; it refers to the statutory provisions that set them out, so the source of the restriction is the statutory provision.
It follows that an owner does not exercise his right in isolation from the laws: if a statutory provision sets a restriction on the use of a particular property, the owner must comply with it, whether the restriction protects a public interest or the private interest of another person, and it is not enough to get around it that the use is, in itself, among an owner's rights.
The article is linked to Article 610, which bars the taking of property except by a statutory provision, and to Article 612 on the attachment of a third party's right to property. To check which restrictions apply to a particular property, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate cases.
Practical example
Youssef owns a plot of land in Jeddah and wishes to use it in a particular way. Before doing so, he must check the statutory provisions that impose restrictions on this use, because the article requires him to comply with the restrictions they provide for the public or private interest.
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 611 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Can an owner use his property as he pleases?
No. He must comply, in exercising his right, with the restrictions that statutory provisions set for the public or private interest.
What is the source of restrictions on ownership under this article?
Statutory provisions, whether the restrictions are set for the public interest or the private interest.
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The article divides the real right into principal rights, such as ownership, usufruct, use, habitation, easement and waqf, and accessory rights, such as mortgage and privilege, together with what the legal provisions so consider.
1- يكون الحقُّ العينيُّ أصليًّا أو تبعيًّا. 2- الحقوق العينية الأصلية هي حق الملكية، وحق الانتفاع، وحق الاستعمال، وحق السكنى، وحق الارتفاق، وحق الوقف، وما يعد ك
- Article 112
The article provides that termination of a contract cannot be asserted against the contracting party's specific successor if he acquired a real right in good faith.
لا يحتج بفسخ العقد تجاه الخلف الخاص للمتعاقد إذا كسب حقًّا عينيًّا بحسن نية.
- Article 131
A building's keeper is liable to compensate for damage caused by the collapse of all or part of the building, unless he proves that it was not due to neglect of maintenance, age of the building or a defect in it.
يكون حارس البناء مسؤولًا عن تعويض الضرر الذي يحدثه تهدّم البناء كله أو بعضه؛ ما لم يثبت أن الضرر لا يرجع سببه إلى إهمال في الصيانة أو قدم في البناء أو عيب فيه.
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لكل من كان مهدَّدًا بضررٍ من شيءٍ معيَّنٍ أن يطالب حارسه باتخاذ ما يلزم من التدابير لدرء خطره، فإذا لم يقم باتخاذ هذه التدابير في وقت مناسب فلمن يهدده الخطر أن
- Article 371
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تصح هبة الشريك حصته في المال الشائع لشريكه أو لغيره عقارًا كان أو منقولًا، ولو كان الموهوب قابلًا للقسمة.
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.