Article 32 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 32 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب السادس: أحكام ختامية
If the need for the expropriated property ends during or after the procedures, the Authority is notified, and the owner may ask to recover it within a year of notification on condition of returning the compensation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا انتفت الحاجة إلى نزع ملكية العقار أثناء السير في إجراءات نزع الملكية أو بعد استكمالها، فعلى الجهة صاحبة المشروع أو الجهة المشرفة -بحسب الأحوال- أن تُبلِغ الهيئة بذلك خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ انتفاء الحاجة.
2- لا تُستكمل إجراءات نزع الملكية في حال انتفاء الحاجة إلى العقار المقرر نزع ملكيته قبل إبلاغ مالك هذا العقار بقرار البدء في إجراءات نزع الملكية وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة والثلاثين) من النظام.
3- دون إخلال بما ورد في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة، تُبلِغ الهيئة مالك العقار المقرر نزع ملكيته بانتفاء الحاجة إلى هذا العقار، ويكون له الحق في التقدم بطلب استرداده خلال (سنة) من تاريخ إبلاغه. فإذا لم يتقدم خلال هذه المدة فللهيئة التصرف بالعقار -بعد استكمال إجراءات نزع الملكية- باعتباره من عقارات الدولة وفقاً للأحكام النظامية ذات العلاقة.
4- يشترط لتقدم مالك العقار المقرر نزع ملكيته بطلب استرداد العقار وفقاً للفقرة (3) من هذه المادة، إعادة ما حصل عليه من تعويض. وتُعامل المدة التي أُخلى فيها العقار -لأغراض احتساب التعويض- معاملة وضع اليد المؤقت على العقار وفقاً للمادة (الخامسة والعشرين) من النظام. وتُحدد اللائحة الأحكام الخاصة بذلك.
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 32 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the case where the need for the property decided to be expropriated ends, whether during the procedures or after they are completed.
- Notifying the Authority: the project owner or supervising body must notify the Authority that the need has ended within a period not exceeding 90 days from the date it ended.
- Stopping procedures early: if the need ends before the owner is notified of the decision to begin under Article 33, the expropriation procedures are not completed.
- Right of recovery: the Authority notifies the owner that the need has ended, and he may apply to recover the property within a year of the date of his notification. If he does not apply within it, the Authority may dispose of the property, after completing the expropriation procedures, as State property under the relevant statutory provisions.
- Condition of recovery: the owner must return the compensation he received. As for the period in which the property was vacated, it is treated, for the purposes of calculating compensation, as temporary occupation under Article 25. The Regulations set the provisions on this.
This Article means that expropriation is tied to the actual need of the project; if it disappears, the owner regains the right to take back his property. The period set for requesting recovery is one year from notification, so it must be watched. Anyone notified that the need for his property has ended would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases before the period ends.
Practical example
Sami's land in Dammam was expropriated for a project, and he received his compensation and vacated it, then the project was canceled and the Authority notified him that the need for the land had ended. Sami may ask to recover it within a year of his notification, on condition that he returns the compensation he received, and the period in which he vacated the land is treated as temporary occupation for the purposes of calculating compensation.
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 32 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
Can I get my land back if it was not used for the project?
If the need for the property ends, the Authority notifies you, and you may apply to recover it within a year of the date you are notified, on condition that you return the compensation you received.
What happens if I do not request recovery within a year?
The Authority may dispose of the property, after completing the expropriation procedures, as State property under the relevant statutory provisions.
How is the period in which the property was vacated treated on recovery?
For the purposes of calculating compensation it is treated as temporary occupation under Article 25, and the Regulations set the provisions on this.
Articles this article refers to
- 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 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
More articles on Rights of Owners of Expropriated Property
- Article 30
The Law's provisions do not prejudice the right of a person harmed other than an owner to claim compensation for any damage caused to him by the expropriation or temporary occupation procedures.
لا تخل أحكام النظام بحق المتضرر من غير مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها أو وضع اليد المؤقت عليها؛ في المطالبة بالتعويض عن أي ضرر يلحق به بسبب إجراء من إجراءات
- Article 31
Owners of properties to be expropriated or occupied keep the right to dispose of them, the buyer takes the seller's place in rights and obligations, and the seller must notify him.
1- لا تخل أحكام النظام بحق مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها أو وضع اليد المؤقت عليها؛ في التصرف بهذه العقارات. 2- يحل المشتري محل البائع في جميع ما يتصل بالحقو
- Article 35
A person with an interest in the property, or a relative by blood or marriage of an owner, or his legal representative, may not take part in the expropriation procedures, and participants must keep matters confidential.
1- لا يجوز أن يشترك في أي إجراء من إجراءات نزع ملكية عقار أو وضع اليد المؤقت على عقار، من كان له في ذلك العقار مصلحة أو علاقة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة، أو كان بينه
- Article 36
Anyone about whose property a decision has been issued under the Law and the Regulations may object to it in accordance with the relevant statutory procedures.
لمن صدر بشأن عقاره قرار -بناءً على النظام واللائحة- التقدم بالاعتراض عليه وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية ذات العلاقة.
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.