Article 711 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 711 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الرابع: حق الارتفاق أولًا: إنشاء حق الارتفاق
An easement right is governed by the rules in the instrument creating it, by the custom of the place where the property is located, and by the provisions of Articles 712 to 715 of the Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يخضع حق الارتفاق للقواعد المقررة في سند إنشائه، ولما جرى عليه عرف المكان الذي يقع فيه العقار، ولأحكام المواد من (الثانية عشرة بعد السبعمائة) إلى (الخامسة عشرة بعد السبعمائة) من هذا النظام.
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 711 explained in plain English
This Article identifies the sources that govern the easement right once it has arisen, and there are three:
- The instrument creating the right: that is, the contract or act that created the easement, and the rules it contains.
- The custom of the place: what custom has established in the place where the property is located.
- The provisions of Articles 712 to 715 of the Law.
This means that anyone who wants to know the limits of a particular easement and its parties' obligations starts by reading the instrument that created it, then turns to the custom of the place, then to the Articles to which this Article refers.
An example of these Articles is Article 712, which places the costs of the works needed to use and maintain the easement on the owner of the benefiting property unless otherwise agreed; allows the owner of the burdened property, if he is charged with those works, to be relieved of the charge by giving up the burdened property in whole or in part to the owner of the benefiting property; and divides the costs of works that benefit both parties in proportion to the benefit each receives.
This Article follows Article 710, which prohibits running a harmful drain onto another's property or onto a public or private road, and requires the harm to be removed even if it is old.
Because the instrument creating the right is the first thing consulted, it is important to draft it clearly; it is advisable to use a lawyer specializing in real estate and civil matters when creating an easement or when there is a dispute over its scope.
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 711 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What governs the easement right?
It is governed by the rules in the instrument creating it, the custom of the place where the property is located, and the provisions of Articles 712 to 715 of the Law.
Does custom play a role in easement rights?
Yes. The easement right is subject to the custom of the place where the property is located.
Who bears the costs of using an easement right?
Article 712 places them on the owner of the benefiting property unless otherwise agreed.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 712
The costs of using and maintaining an easement right fall on the owner of the benefiting property unless otherwise agreed; the Article also regulates giving up the property and sharing costs.
1- تكون نفقات الأعمال اللازمة لاستعمال حق الارتفاق والمحافظة عليه على مالك العقار المـُرتَفِقِ؛ ما لم يُتَّفق على خلاف ذلك. 2- إذا كان مالك العقار المـُرتَفَقِ
- Article 713
The owner of the burdened property may not affect the use of an easement or change its position, unless it becomes more burdensome or blocks useful repairs, in which case he may ask to have it moved.
لا يجوز لمالك العقار المـُرتَفَقِ به أن يقوم بعمل من شأنه التأثير في استعمال حق الارتفاق أو تغيير وضعه، إلا إذا أصبح الارتفاق أشد إرهاقًا لمالك العقار المرتَفَق
- Article 714
If the benefiting property is divided, the easement remains for each part without increasing the burdens on the burdened property, and its owner may ask to end it for parts that do not benefit from it.
1- إذا جزئ العقار المـُرتَفِقُ بقي حق الارتفاق مستحقًّا لكل جزء منه على ألا يزيد ذلك في أعباء العقار المـُرتَفَقِ به. 2- إذا كان حق الارتفاق لا يفيد إلا بعض هذه
- Article 715
If the burdened property is divided, the easement remains on each part, and the owner of a part on which the right is not used and cannot be used may ask to end it for his part.
إذا جزئ العقار المـُرتَفَقُ به بقي حق الارتفاق على كل جزء منه، وإذا كان غير مستعمل في الواقع على بعض أجزاء العقار المـُرتَفَقِ به ولا يمكن أن يستعمل عليها، فلما
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.