Article 13 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
المادة 13 من نظام الولاية على أموال القاصرين
The article limits the cases in which the Authority may exchange a waqf for a similar one, and bars selling, exchanging, restoring or relocating a waqf without the approval of the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يجوز للهيئة أن تستبدل بالوقف مثله إلا إذا اشترط الواقف ذلك لنفسه أو لغيره، أو صار الوقف لا ينتفع به كليا، أو صار لا يفي بمؤونته، أو نزعت ملكيته للمنفعة العامة.
2- لا يجوز بيع الوقف أو الاستبدال به غيره أو الإذن بتعميره أو نقله من مكانه إلا بعد موافقة المحكمة المختصة.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article sets strict limits to protect a waqf from being disposed of, in two paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: cases of exchange
The Authority may not exchange a waqf for a similar one except in one of the following cases:
- If the founder stipulated this for himself or for another.
- If the waqf has become wholly unusable.
- If it has become insufficient to cover its upkeep, that is, its income does not cover its costs.
- If its ownership was expropriated for the public benefit.
Outside these cases, exchange is not permitted.
Paragraph 2: court approval
None of the following may be done except after the approval of the competent court:
- Selling the waqf.
- Exchanging it for another.
- Permitting its restoration.
- Relocating it from its place.
So even where one of the cases of exchange in the first paragraph exists, the requirement of court approval still stands. This ties in with Article 12, which allows the supervisor to permit the restoration of a dilapidated waqf; that permission is valid only with the court's approval. It is followed by Article 14, which provides that all of the Authority's investments and financial dealings are in accordance with the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
If a waqf in which you have an interest is exposed to sale or exchange, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in waqf cases.
Practical example
A waqf building in Riyadh is subject to an expropriation decision to widen a road. This is one of the cases in which the Authority may exchange the waqf for a similar one, but the replacement is not purchased and the waqf is not relocated until the competent court approves.
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 13 of the Saudi Minors' Property Guardianship Law
Can a waqf be sold?
A waqf may not be sold, exchanged for another or relocated except after the approval of the competent court.
When can a waqf be exchanged?
If the founder stipulated it, or the waqf has become wholly unusable or insufficient to cover its upkeep, or its ownership has been expropriated for the public benefit.
Is a valid reason for exchange enough without the court?
No. The second paragraph requires the approval of the competent court for sale, exchange, restoration or relocation.
More articles on Administering Family Endowments
- Article 10
The article gives the Authority administration of private endowments with no administrator and supervision of appointed administrators, requires periodic accounts from them, and lets it refer a harmful administrator to the court.
تختص الهيئة بالنظارة على جميع الأوقاف الأهلية التي لا ناظر عليها وكذلك المشتركة فيما يختص بالوقف الأهلي. ولها حق الإشراف على النظار المعينين إذا عهدت إليها المح
- Article 11
The article allows the Authority to request partition of a waqf, and the competent court to permit it, where the endowed property is an undivided share co-owned with another owner or shared between two or more waqfs.
يجوز للهيئة المطالبة بالقسمة وللمحكمة المختصة الإذن بذلك إذا كان الموقوف حصة شائعة مشتركة بين الواقف ومالك آخر أو أكثر أو مشتركة بين وقفين أو أكثر.
- Article 12
The article allows the supervisor, where a waqf is dilapidated or has no income and there is nothing to restore it with, to permit someone to restore it at his own expense by building or planting for a known term and a set rent.
يجوز للناظر إذا خرب الوقف أو تعذرت عودته لإنتاج غلة أو كان أرضا لا غلة لها ولا يوجد ما يعمر به من ريع الوقف أن يأذن لمن يعمره من ماله ببناء أو غرس أو نحوهما لمد
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.