Article 3 of the Saudi Eminent Domain Implementing Regulations

First: cases of eminent domain to carry out projects approved in the budget:

1. (a) For the benefit of public facilities and services.
2. (b) To expand existing government sites or the sites allocated to them in approved plans, after coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
3. (c) To set up government agencies' projects where there are no approved sites that meet their need.

Second: additional steps in cases (a) and (c):

• The beneficiary authority makes a preliminary selection of suitable sites and notifies their owners of this.
• The project-owning authority coordinates with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to choose the most suitable sites, organize the site and approve its plan, and must inform the owners what will be done regarding their properties within a period of no more than 6 months from the date they were notified of the preliminary selection.
• The beneficiary authority then takes ownership of the site that was approved, under the established procedures.

The practical meaning for the owner is that being notified of the preliminary selection does not mean final eminent domain, and that he is to be told the fate of his property within 6 months of that notice. The article does not state the effect of exceeding this period. Anyone notified that his property has been selected can consult a lawyer specializing in real estate or administrative matters.