Article 26 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 26 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب الخامس: وضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات
The senior official of the project owner or supervising body issues the decision on temporary occupation, stating its period and purpose, after the committee approves, and notifies the Authority of it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُصدِر المسؤول الأول في الجهة صاحبة المشروع أو في الجهة المشرفة -بحسب الأحوال- قرار وضع اليد المؤقت، وذلك وفقاً للآتي:
1- أن يتضمن القرار مدة وضع اليد المؤقت والغرض منه.
2- أن يسبق إصدار القرار موافقة لجنة نزع ملكية العقارات ووضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات.
3- تُبلِغ الجهة صاحبة المشروع أو الجهة المشرفة -بحسب الأحوال- الهيئة بالقرار المشار إليه في 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 26 explained in plain English
This Article sets who issues the temporary occupation decision and how:
Who issues it? The senior official of the project owner or of the supervising body, as the case may be.
Conditions of the decision:
- It must state the period of the temporary occupation and its purpose.
- It must be preceded by the approval of the Committee for Expropriation of Real Estate and Temporary Occupation of Real Estate.
- The project owner or supervising body must notify the Authority of the decision.
So the decision is issued by the body itself, but only after the committee's approval, and then the Authority is notified of it. This Article does not specify the maximum period of occupation, but only requires that the period be stated in the decision.
Requiring the period and purpose to be stated in the decision protects the owner, as he knows until when he will be deprived of using his property and for what reason. This Article regulates the usual case, and comes after Article 25, which allows temporary occupation in return for fair compensation, whereas Article 27 regulates an exception concerning emergency cases.
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 26 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
Who issues the decision for temporary occupation of property?
The senior official of the project owner or of the supervising body, as the case may be, after the approval of the Committee for Expropriation of Real Estate and Temporary Occupation of Real Estate.
What must the temporary occupation decision include?
The period of the temporary occupation and its purpose.
Is the Authority notified of the occupation decision?
Yes. The project owner or the supervising body notifies the Authority of the decision.
More articles on Temporary Occupation of Property
- Article 6
A person whose property is expropriated is entitled to the market value plus 20% and compensation for damages, and a person whose property is temporarily occupied to not less than the fair rental plus 20% and compensation for damages.
1- يستحق مَنْ نُزعت ملكية عقاره تعويضاً وذلك وفقاً للآتي: أ- أن تكون قيمة التعويض بناءً على القيمة السوقية للعقار. ب- أن يضاف إلى القيمة السوقية -المشار إليها ف
- Article 25
Real estate may be temporarily occupied for a temporary public interest in return for fair compensation determined under Articles 14 and 15, and this does not prevent its later expropriation if necessary.
يجوز وضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات مقابل تعويض عادل، وذلك تحقيقاً لمصلحة عامة ذات طابع مؤقت، ويُحدد التعويض عن وضع اليد المؤقت وفقاً للإجراءات المنصوص عليها في ا
- Article 27
In emergency cases the decision on temporary occupation may be issued without the committee's prior approval, provided the committee is notified within 30 days of its issuance, and the Article defines the emergency case.
1- استثناءً من حكم الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة والعشرين) من النظام، يُصدِر المسؤول قرار وضع اليد المؤقت في الحالات الطارئة، ويتخذ ما يلزم -خلال مدة لا تتجاوز
- Article 28
The period of temporary occupation may not exceed 3 years and may be extended for another 3 years with the approval of the committee and the owners, otherwise the property must be vacated at the end of the period.
1- يجب ألا تتجاوز مدة وضع اليد المؤقت على العقار (ثلاث) سنوات بحد أقصى. 2- إذا رأت الجهة صاحبة المشروع أو الجهة المشرفة -بحسب الأحوال- أن المدة -المشار إليها في
- Article 29
Where the Law and the Regulations have no specific provision, the provisions on leasing real estate apply to temporary occupation in a manner consistent with its nature.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في النظام واللائحة، تُطبق على حالات وضع اليد المؤقت على العقارات أحكام إيجار العقارات، وذلك بما يتفق مع طبيعة وضع اليد المؤقت.
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.