Article 708 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 708 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الرابع: حق الارتفاق أولًا: إنشاء حق الارتفاق
A landowner harmed by the watercourse may ask the holder of the right to repair it, and if he refuses, may repair it at the right holder's expense to the customary extent.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمالك الأرض إذا أصاب أرضه ضررٌ من المجرى أن يطلب من صاحب حق المجرى تعميره وإصلاحه لرفع ذلك الضرر، فإذا امتنع جاز لمالك الأرض أن يقوم به على نفقة صاحب الحق بالقدر المتعارف عليه.
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 708 explained in plain English
After Article 707 established the right of watercourse and barred landowners from preventing it on conditions, this Article protects the owner of the land the watercourse crosses if he is harmed by it.
It gives him two successive steps:
- Request first: the landowner may ask the holder of the right of watercourse to maintain and repair it to remove the harm.
- Repair at the right holder's expense if he refuses: if the holder of the right of watercourse refuses, the landowner may carry out the repair himself at the right holder's expense, to the customary extent.
The text indicates that the cost of repairs needed to remove the harm to the land falls on the holder of the right of watercourse. But what is spent at the right holder's expense is limited to the customary extent, and may not be exaggerated.
It is followed by Article 709, which prevents the owner of lower land from building a dam that blocks water flowing naturally from the higher land, and prevents the owner of the higher land from doing anything that increases the burden on the lower land.
In a dispute over whether harm exists or the amount of the cost, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate and civil matters.
Practical example
A water channel serving a neighbor's farm passes through Saeed's land in Al-Jouf, and seepage from it has damaged Saeed's land. Saeed asked his neighbor to repair the channel, but he refused, so Saeed may repair it at his neighbor's expense to the customary extent.
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 708 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What can I do if my land is damaged by my neighbor's water channel?
You may ask the holder of the right of watercourse to maintain and repair it to remove the harm.
If the owner of the channel refuses to repair it, can I repair it myself?
Yes. You may do so at the right holder's expense, to the customary extent.
Can I recover everything I spent on the repair?
The expense is borne by the right holder to the customary extent.
More articles on Preemption, Possession and Easements
- Article 26
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 658
The article defines preemption (shuf'a) as the right of a co-owner to acquire the sold real estate for the price at which it was sold plus its expenses.
الشفعة حق الشريك في أن يتملّك العقار المبيع بالثمن الذي بيع به وبنفقاته.
- Article 659
The article provides that where more than one preemptor comes together, each one's entitlement to preemption is in proportion to his share.
إذا اجتمع أكثر من شفيع كان استحقاق كل منهم من الشفعة على قدر نصيبه.
- Article 660
The article provides that if a buyer sells property subject to preemption to another before the preemptor is notified of his wish to take by preemption under Article 666, the preemptor takes it only at the price of the second sale plus its expenses.
إذا اشترى شخص ما تصح الشفعة فيه ثم باعه لآخر قبل إعلام الشفيع رغبته الأخذ بالشفعة وفقًا للفقرتين (ب) و(ج) من المادة (السادسة والستين بعد الستمائة) من هذا النظام
- Article 661
The article fixes when the right of preemption is established: when the sale is completed, provided that the reason giving rise to preemption exists.
تثبت الشفعة بتمام البيع مع قيام السبب الموجب لها.
- Article 662
The article requires, for the right of preemption to be established, that the preemptor owned his share in the real estate at the time the buyer bought the seller's share.
ليس للشفيع حق الشفعة إلا إذا كان مالكًا لنصيبه في العقار وقت شراء المشتري نصيب البائع.
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.