Article 8 of the Saudi Eminent Domain Implementing Regulations
المادة 8 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمنفعة العامة ووضع اليد المؤقت على العقار
The article provides for compensating the owner of planned white land from which the statutory percentage was taken and which a main road then crosses, unless the remaining undeveloped area exceeds ten thousand meters.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الأراضي البيضاء (الفضاء) المملوكة التي سبق أن اعتمدت وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية مخططها وأخذت النسبة النظامية منها، ثم مر بها طريق رئيس معتمد، يعوض مالكها عن المساحة المقتطعة للطريق من قبل الجهة صاحبة المشروع، ما لم تكن المساحة المتبقية غير المنماة تزيد على عشرة آلاف متر مربع؛ فيتم التعامل مع المساحة المتبقية وفق مقتضى المادة (الحادية عشرة) من هذه اللائحة.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article deals with a specific case with three conditions together:
- The land is owned white land (open land).
- The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has previously approved its plan and taken the statutory percentage from it.
- An approved main road then passes through it.
The rule: The owner is compensated for the area taken for the road, and the compensation falls on the project-owning authority. The logic is that the owner already gave the statutory percentage free of charge at planning.
The exception: If the remaining undeveloped area exceeds 10,000 m², the remaining area is dealt with under Article 11 of the Regulations. Article 11 sets detailed rules for compensating what is taken for planning or for main roads, including, for land inside the development protection boundary, preparing an initial planning concept covering the road after the Ministry's approval, no compensation to the owner if the area taken does not exceed the statutory percentage and the remainder is 10,000 m² or more, and compensating him for whatever exceeds the statutory percentage.
The practical meaning is that the owner of planned land is not asked to give up land free of charge again for the road, unless he has a large undeveloped area exceeding ten thousand meters left, in which case Article 11's rules apply. Because these calculations are complex, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate matters.
Practical example
A white plot in Jeddah had its plan approved and the statutory percentage taken from it, and then a main road crossed it, taking part of it and leaving 6,000 m² undeveloped. The owner is compensated for the area taken for the road because the remainder does not exceed ten thousand meters.
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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Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Qarawi Law and Notary Office, Riyadh
Frequently asked questions about Article 8 of the Saudi Eminent Domain Implementing Regulations
Am I compensated if a main road crosses my planned land from which the statutory percentage was taken?
Yes. The owner is compensated for the area taken for the road, unless the remaining undeveloped area exceeds ten thousand square meters.
What if more than ten thousand meters remain?
The remaining area is dealt with under Article 11 of the Regulations.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Compensation for Cuts for Roads and Planning
- Article 7
The article provides that the owner of land of ten thousand square meters or less is compensated, by the project-owning authority, for the whole area taken to build main road networks.
الأراضي المملوكة البالغة مساحتها (10.000 م2) عشرة آلاف متر مربع فأقل يتم التعويض عن كامل المساحة المقتطعة لتنفيذ شبكات الطرق الرئيسة من قبل الجهة صاحبة المشروع.
- Article 9
The article provides that when a main road passes through developed land, of whatever kind of development, compensation is paid for the areas taken and for the buildings, facilities and plantings on them.
في حالة مرور طريق رئيس ضمن أراض منماة - أيًّا كان نوع التنمية - يتم التعويض عن المساحات المقتطعة وما يوجد عليها من مبانٍ ومنشآت وغراس.
- Article 10
The article provides that the owner of developed land who requests its planning or subdivision is not compensated for what is taken from it within the statutory percentage, nor for what exceeds it if at his request or with his consent.
إذا طلب مالك الأرض المنماة تخطيطها أو تقسيمها فلا يعوض عما يقتطع منها لذلك في حدود النسبة النظامية، ولا يعوض إذا كان تجاوُز النسبة النظامية بناءً على طلبه أو مو
- Article 11
The article details the landowner's entitlement to compensation for what is taken for planning or main roads, inside and outside the development protection boundary, according to the statutory percentage or the 12% rate and the ten-thousand-square-meter limit.
يستحق مالك الأرض التعويض عما يقتطع لمصلحة التخطيط أو لتحديد وتنفيذ شبكات الطرق الرئيسة، وفقاً لما يأتي : أولاً : بالنسبة إلى ما هو واقع داخل حدود حماية التنمية
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.