Article 11 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 11 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب الثاني: إجراءات نزع ملكية العقارات
As soon as the decision to begin is issued, the project owner must publish it and notify the bodies and owners, and anyone who cannot be notified is deemed notified 30 days after its official publication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الجهة صاحبة المشروع، فور صدور قرار البدء في إجراءات نزع الملكية؛ اتخاذ الإجراءات الآتية:
1- نشر القرار في الجريدة الرسمية، وجريدة محلية واحدة على الأقل في منطقة العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها، ونشره كذلك من خلال الوسائل الإلكترونية المتاحة. وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط اللازمة لذلك.
2- إبلاغ الجهات ذات العلاقة ومالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها بالقرار وموعد بدء أعمال حصر مشتملات العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها، وذلك وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة والثلاثين) من النظام.
3- يتحقق إبلاغ مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها الذين يتعذر إبلاغهم بالقرار وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة والثلاثين) من النظام بمرور ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية وفقاً للفقرة (1) من هذه المادة.
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 11 explained in plain English
After the decision to begin expropriation procedures is issued, this Article obliges the project owner to take immediate announcement steps:
- Publication: in the Official Gazette, in at least one local newspaper in the area of the properties to be expropriated, and by the available electronic means. The Regulations set the controls for this.
- Notification: notifying the related bodies and the owners of the properties of the decision and of the date the work of surveying the contents of the properties begins, in accordance with Article 33 of the Law.
- Deemed notification: if some owners cannot be notified under Article 33, their notification is achieved 30 days after the decision is published in the Official Gazette.
The importance of the third provision is that an owner who did not receive direct notification is deemed notified after this period, so the effects attached to notification apply to him. Among these is what Article 12 provides, the duty to submit documents proving ownership within a period counted from the date of notification.
Property owners are therefore well advised to follow what is published about projects in their areas, and if an owner learns his property is included, he may consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases to organize his documents and rights.
Practical example
Saad went abroad to study, and the decision to begin expropriating his land in Qassim was issued and published in the Official Gazette, but he could not be notified of the decision under Article 33. Thirty days after the date of publication, Saad is deemed legally notified of the decision, even if he has not seen it.
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 11 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
Where is the expropriation decision published?
In the Official Gazette, in at least one local newspaper in the area of the properties, and by the available electronic means.
What if I receive no notice of the expropriation of my property?
If the owner cannot be notified under Article 33, he is deemed notified 30 days after the decision is published in the Official Gazette.
What is the owner notified of?
The decision to begin expropriation procedures and the date the work of surveying the contents of the properties begins.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Expropriation Decision and Notice to Owners
- 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
- Article 10
The decision to begin expropriation is not issued until the project owner has the financial appropriations, financial solvency or alternative lands allocated for it.
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 الأ
- Article 12
Owners of properties to be expropriated must submit documents proving ownership to the project owner within a period it sets, of not less than 15 days from notification.
على مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها تقديم مستندات إثبات الملكية للعقارات الواقعة ضمن مخطط المشروع، للجهة صاحبة المشروع خلال المدة التي تحددها الجهة صاحبة المش
- Article 33
Owners of properties to be expropriated or occupied are notified by two of the following: text messages to a verified mobile, email, or an account in a government automated system.
يكون إبلاغ مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها أو وضع اليد المؤقت عليها وفقاً لأحكام النظام باثنتين من الوسائل الآتية: 1- الرسائل النصية المرسلة عبر الهاتف المحمو
- Article 34
From the date owners are notified of the decision to begin, planning, dividing, merging or licensing for any activity on the lands specified in the project plan is prohibited.
لا يجوز تخطيط الأراضي ولا تقسيمها ولا دمج عقار بآخر، ولا الترخيص عليها بأي نشاط، وذلك بالنسبة إلى الأراضي أو العقارات المحددة في مخطط المشروع؛ اعتبارًا من تاريخ
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.