Article 6 of the Saudi Public Utilities Protection Law
المادة 6 من نظام حماية المرافق العامة
The article punishes anyone who causes damage to, or the cutting or disabling of, public utility lines with a fine of up to SAR 100,000, and allows a contractor responsible to be barred from future contracting.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز مائة ألف ريال كل من تسبب في إتلاف أي من تمديدات المرافق العامة أو قطعها أو تعطيلها. فإن كان المتسبب في ذلك مقاولا فإنه يجوز منع التعاقد معه مستقبلا مدة لا تزيد على ستة أشهر، كما يجوز في حالة العود أن يحكم بمنع التعاقد مدة تزيد على الحد الأقصى المقرر على ألا تتجاوز المدة المحكوم بها ضعف هذا الحد. وتنشر في الصحف المحلية العقوبات المحكوم بها على نفقة المحكوم عليه.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article deals with causing harm to public utilities, which is the more common situation in practice, for example an excavator cutting a cable during construction work without intending to.
The basic penalty: a fine of up to SAR 100,000 for anyone who causes damage to, or the cutting or disabling of, any public utility lines.
Provisions specific to contractors:
- If the person responsible is a contractor, he may be barred from contracting in the future for a period of up to 6 months.
- In case of repeat offense, a ban on contracting for a period longer than this maximum may be ordered, provided it does not exceed double that limit, that is, 12 months.
Publication: the penalties imposed are published in the local newspapers at the expense of the person convicted.
The difference between this article and Article 5 is that Article 5 concerns whoever deliberately caused the damage, cutting or disabling, and allows imprisonment of up to two years, whereas this article concerns whoever caused it, with a financial penalty and the possibility of barring the contractor from contracting. Article 7 provides other penalties relating to encroachment on utilities to benefit from them unlawfully and encroachment on roads and railways.
This article shows the importance of caution before any work near utility networks. A contractor facing a fine or a contracting ban may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal or administrative cases.
Practical example
A contractor in Makkah was carrying out excavation works to lay a drainage network when the excavator cut a main electricity cable and power was lost across a whole neighborhood. Under the article, he can be punished with a fine of up to SAR 100,000, he may be barred from future contracting for up to 6 months, and the penalty is published in the local newspapers at his expense.
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 6 of the Saudi Public Utilities Protection Law
What is the fine for cutting an electricity cable while digging?
Anyone who causes damage to, or the cutting or disabling of, public utility lines is punished with a fine of up to SAR 100,000.
Can a contractor be barred from contracting if he damages a public utility?
Yes. He may be barred from future contracting for up to 6 months, and in case of repeat offense the period may be longer, provided it does not exceed double that limit.
Are penalties for damaging utilities published?
Yes. The penalties imposed are published in the local newspapers at the expense of the person convicted.
More articles on Penalties for Attacking Public Utilities
- Article 5Amended by M/38
The article punishes anyone who deliberately damages, cuts or disables public utility lines or facilities with up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either, with the possible publication of the penalty.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على سنتين وبغرامة لا تتجاوز مائة ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من تعمد إتلاف أي من تمديدات أو منشآت المرافق العامة، أو تعمد قط
- Article 7
The article punishes with a fine of up to SAR 50,000 anyone who encroaches on public utilities to use their services unlawfully, or who encroaches on public roads and railways or their protected zones.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال كل من يتعدى على منشآت المرافق العامة أو شبكاتها بقصد الاستفادة من خدماتها بطريقة غير مشروعة، وكذا كل من يتعدى على السكك ال
- Article 8
The article punishes with a fine of up to SAR 3,000 anyone who tampers with water or electricity meters or public telephones, or who floods, disables or endangers traffic on roads or railways.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد عن ثلاثة آلاف ريال كل من يعبث بعدادات المياه أو الكهرباء أو أجهزة الهاتف العامة أو تمديداتها بقصد تعطيل وظيفتها أو الإخلال بها، وكذا كل من
- Article 9
The article punishes with a fine of up to SAR 2,000 any beneficiary of public utility services who helps others use them unlawfully.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد عن ألفي ريال كل مستفيد من خدمات المرافق العامة يسهل للغير الاستفادة منها بطريقة غير مشروعة.
- Article 10
The article allows, in case of repeat offense under the Law, a fine above the maximum limit, provided it does not exceed double that limit.
في حالة العود إلى ارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يجوز أن يحكم بأكثر من الحد الأقصى المقرر للغرامة، على ألا يتجاوز ضعف هذا الحد.
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.