Article 10 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 10 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب الثاني: إجراءات نزع ملكية العقارات
The decision to begin expropriation is not issued until the project owner has the financial appropriations, financial solvency or alternative lands allocated for it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز إصدار قرار البدء في إجراءات نزع الملكية وفقاً للمادة (التاسعة) من النظام إلا بعد توفر الاعتمادات المالية أو الملاءة المالية أو الأراضي البديلة -بحسب الأحوال- المخصصة لنزع الملكية لدى الجهة صاحبة المشروع.
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 10 explained in plain English
This Article adds a financial safeguard for owners: the decision to begin expropriation procedures under Article 9 may not be issued until the project owner has, as the case may be:
- The financial appropriations allocated for the expropriation, or
- The financial solvency, or
- The alternative lands allocated for the expropriation.
In practice, the intent is that procedures toward owners do not begin before the means of compensation are actually available, whether money or alternative land. It is not enough for the committee to approve the request; the compensation must be ready before the decision to begin is issued.
The phrase "as the case may be" means that what is required differs according to the nature of the body and of the compensation: for a government body, the availability of appropriations is required; for a company or association, the availability of solvency; and if the compensation is by alternative lands, those lands must be available.
This Article complements Article 9, which makes issuing the decision to begin the responsibility of the Governor after the committee's approval, and prepares for Article 11, which explains what the body must do as soon as the decision is issued.
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 10 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
Can my expropriation begin before the compensation amount is available?
No. The decision to begin expropriation procedures may not be issued until the project owner has the financial appropriations, financial solvency or alternative lands allocated for it.
What is meant by alternative lands in this Article?
The lands the project owner has allocated for expropriation, when the compensation is by land instead of money.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Requesting and Approving Expropriation
- Article 4
Expropriation or temporary occupation procedures are taken only if no State properties suffice for the purpose.
لا تُتخذ إجراءات نزع ملكية العقار أو وضع اليد المؤقت عليه إلا في حال عدم وجود عقارات للدولة تفي بالغرض.
- Article 7
The Article obliges the project owner to submit a request to the Authority for approval to begin expropriation or temporary occupation, and specifies the contents of each request.
على الجهة صاحبة المشروع -بالتنسيق مع الجهة المشرفة بحسب الأحوال- تقديم طلب إلى الهيئة للموافقة على البدء في إجراءات نزع الملكية أو وضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات،
- Article 8
A committee in the Authority chaired by the Governor examines the expropriation or temporary occupation request; the Article sets its members, the grounds of its review and how it takes decisions.
1- يُدرس الطلب المقدم وفقاً للمادة (السابعة) من النظام من لجنة -أو أكثر- تُشكل في الهيئة تسمى (لجنة نزع ملكية العقارات ووضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات)، تكون برئا
- Article 9
The Authority notifies the project owner of the committee's decision within 60 days of submitting the request, and the Governor issues the decision to begin expropriation when the committee approves.
1- تبلغ الهيئة الجهة صاحبة المشروع بقرار لجنة نزع ملكية العقارات ووضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات، وذلك خلال مدة (ستين) يوماً من تاريخ تقديم الطلب وفق المادة (السا
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.