Article 18 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
المادة 18 من نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات · الفصل الخامس: استخدام العقارات
The article regulates the agreement between an infrastructure provider and a property owner for installing networks, and bars the owner from imposing a charge or refusing entry to serve a resident except for justified and lawful reasons.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يتفق مقدم الخدمة ذو البنية التحتية مع مالك العقار -أو من في حكمه- عند حاجته إلى تركيب أي أجهزة، أو إنشاء شبكات اتصالات أو صيانتها داخل العقارات العامة أو الخاصة؛ لتقديم خدمات الاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات للعموم. وفي حالة عدم الوصول إلى اتفاق، فلمقدم الخدمة التقدم إلى الهيئة؛ للنظر في نزع ملكية ذلك العقار، وفقًا للأحكام النظامية ذات العلاقة.
2- عند حاجة مقدم الخدمة ذي البنية التحتية إلى تركيب أي أجهزة أو إنشاء شبكات اتصالات أو صيانتها داخل العقارات لتقديم خدمات الاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات لشخص مقيم داخل ذلك العقار، فلا يجوز لمالك العقار -أو من في حكمه- فرض مقابل مالي على مقدم الخدمة ذي البنية التحتية، أو منعه من الدخول إلى ذلك العقار إلا إذا توافر لدى المالك -أو من في حكمه- أسباب مسوّغة ونظامية للمنع، ولأي منهما اللجوء إلى الهيئة للبت في الخلاف.
3- يلتزم مقدم الخدمة ذو البنية التحتية بإعادة حال العقار إلى ما كان عليه فور انتهائه من الأعمال المشار إليها في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة.
4- تحدد اللائحة الأحكام ذات الصلة بإنفاذ ما ورد في هذه المادة.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article sets out in detail how infrastructure service providers exercise their right of access to real estate under Article 17, and distinguishes between two cases:
Case one: service to the public
- If the operator needs to install equipment or establish or maintain networks inside public or private real estate in order to provide services to the public, it must agree with the owner or the person in the owner's position.
- If they do not agree, the operator may apply to the Authority to consider expropriating the property under the relevant legal provisions. Expropriation is therefore not automatic.
Case two: service to a person residing in the property
- If the installation, establishment or maintenance is to provide service to a person residing in the property, such as a tenant, the owner or the person in the owner's position may not impose a financial charge on the operator or refuse it entry.
- The exception is where the owner has justified and lawful reasons for refusal.
- Either the owner or the operator may turn to the Authority to decide the dispute.
Restoring the property: In both cases, the operator must restore the property to its former condition as soon as the work is finished.
The Implementing Regulations specify the provisions for enforcing this article. Article 19 then refers to the Implementing Regulations the provisions on establishing, operating and maintaining public networks and on sharing cable-laying sites. Anyone facing a dispute of this kind should consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases or communications law.
Practical example
A tenant of an apartment in Riyadh requested a fiber-optic service, and the building owner asked the telecom company for a payment in return for allowing the installation. The owner may not impose this charge or refuse entry unless he has justified and lawful reasons. Either may turn to the Authority, and the company must restore the building to its condition after finishing.
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 18 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
Can a building owner stop the internet being installed for a tenant?
The owner may not refuse an infrastructure service provider entry to serve a person residing in the property unless the owner has justified and lawful reasons for refusal.
Can the owner take money from the telecom company for the installation?
If the installation is to serve a person residing in the property, the owner may not impose a financial charge on the infrastructure service provider.
Where do I complain if there is a dispute with the owner?
Either the owner or the service provider may turn to the Authority to decide the dispute.
Who repairs the damage after the network is installed?
The infrastructure service provider must restore the property to its former condition as soon as it finishes the work.
More articles on Laying Telecom Networks in Real Estate
- Article 17
The article gives infrastructure service providers an equal right to access public and private real estate to provide services, provided the owner knows and consents and within the limits of need.
يتمتع جميع مقدمي الخدمة ذوي البنية التحتية بحق متساوٍ في الوصول إلى العقارات العامة والخاصة لغرض توفير خدمات الاتصالات أو تقنية المعلومات، على أن يكون الوصول لت
- Article 19
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the provisions on establishing, operating and maintaining public communications networks, and on infrastructure providers sharing cable-laying sites.
دون إخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة ذات العلاقة بحماية المواقع التي لها أهمية خاصة، تبين اللائحة الأحكام المتعلقة بإنشاء وتشغيل وصيانة شبكات الاتصالات العامة، وأحكام
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.