Article 16 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 16 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثالث: أراضي الغطاء النباتي
The article prohibits any activity or work within vegetation cover lands, or in urban lands with vegetation cover supervised by the competent authority, without a permit or license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تُحظر ممارسة أي نشاط أو عمل داخل أراضي الغطاء النباتي؛ دون الحصول على تصريح أو ترخيص، وذلك وفقاً لما تبينه اللوائح.
2- تُحظر ممارسة أي نشاط أو عمل في الأراضي التي تقع ضمن النطاق الحضري العمراني وتحتوي على غطاء نباتي تشرف عليه الجهة المختصة؛ دون الحصول على تصريح أو ترخيص، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article sets a general rule to protect vegetation cover lands, and covers two kinds of land:
Paragraph 1 - Vegetation cover lands: Under Article 1, these are all state-owned lands that contain wild plants and the like, including rangelands, forests, national, wilderness and geological parks, and wetland, plain, sand (dune), mountain and coastal areas, valleys and islands. Carrying out any activity or work within them is prohibited without a permit or license.
Paragraph 2 - Lands within the urban zone: The prohibition extends to lands inside cities and built-up areas if two conditions are met: that they contain vegetation cover, and that this cover is supervised by the competent authority.
The phrase "any activity or work" is broad, but the article ties the prohibition to what the regulations set out; the regulations clarify the activities covered, the type of document required (permit or license) and its conditions.
More detailed provisions follow: Article 17 requires the license holder and permit holder, when using these lands, to take environmental considerations into account and use the soil rationally. Before it is Article 15, which requires a license to reclaim and level these lands. Anyone planning a project in the wild can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A tourism company in AlUla wants to hold an event in a valley area that contains wild plants, which is among the vegetation cover lands. Under Article 16, it must obtain a permit or license as the regulations set out before carrying out the activity.
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 16 of the Saudi Environment Law
Does the prohibition cover lands inside cities?
Yes, if the land is within the urban zone and contains vegetation cover supervised by the competent authority.
Which lands count as vegetation cover lands?
State-owned lands that contain wild plants, including rangelands, forests, parks, and wetland, plain, sand, mountain and coastal areas, valleys and islands.
Which activities need a permit in these lands?
The article prohibits any activity or work without a permit or license, and refers the details to the regulations.
More articles on Vegetation Cover and Logging
- Article 12
The article prohibits owning forest, rangeland and national, wilderness and geological park lands by any transfer of ownership, and prohibits encroaching on them by expansion or new construction.
1- لا يجوز تملك أراضي الغابات والمراعي والمنتزهات الوطنية والبرية والجيولوجية، بأي وجه من أوجه التصرف الناقل للملكية. 2- لا يجوز التعدي -سواء أكان بالتوسع أم با
- Article 13
The article provides for establishing national, wilderness and geological parks by decision of the Minister on land free of private rights, and allows the competent authority to invest in them and regulate that investment.
1- تنشأ -بقرار من الوزير- المنتزهات الوطنية والبرية والجيولوجية على أرض غير مملوكة ملكية خاصة وليس لأحد عليها حق اختصاص أو حجز أو امتياز. وفي حالة وجود أي من ذل
- Article 14
The article requires any person to obtain a permit before extracting or exploiting sand, gravel, rock or clay, as the regulations set out.
على أي شخص قبل القيام بنهل أو استغلال الرمل أو الحصى أو الصخور أو الطين؛ الحصول على تصريح، وذلك وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
- Article 15
The article requires a license to reclaim and level agricultural land and vegetation cover lands, without prejudice to Article 14 on the sand and gravel extraction permit.
دون إخلال بما ورد في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، يشترط لاستصلاح الأرض الزراعية وأراضي الغطاء النباتي وتسويتها؛ الحصول على ترخيص وفقاً لما تُبيّنه اللوائح.
- Article 17
The article requires the license holder and permit holder, when using vegetation cover lands in their activities, to take environmental considerations into account and use the soil rationally.
على كل من المرخص له والمصرح له -عند استخدامه أراضي الغطاء النباتي في تنفيذ أنشطته- الأخذ بالاعتبارات البيئية، والالتزام بالاستخدام الرشيد للتربة؛ وذلك وفقاً لما
- Article 18
The article prohibits cultivation or tree planting within vegetation cover lands without obtaining a license.
يُحظر الاستزراع أو التشجير داخل أراضي الغطاء النباتي؛ دون الحصول على ترخيص.
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.