Article 33 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 33 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب السادس: أحكام ختامية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المحمول الموثق.
2- البريد الإلكتروني.
3- أحد الحسابات المسجلة في أي من الأنظمة الآلية الحكومية.
وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المتعلقة بما ورد 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 33 explained in plain English
This Article sets the means of notifying owners in everything that requires notifying them under the Law, whether in expropriation or temporary occupation.
Notification must be made by two of the following means:
- Text messages sent to a verified mobile phone.
- Email.
- One of the accounts registered in any of the government automated systems.
One means is therefore not enough; two of these three must be combined, to ensure the notification reaches the owner. The Article refers to the Regulations to set the provisions on this.
The importance of notification is that periods and effects in the Law are counted from it. For example, Article 32 provides that if the need for the property ends before its owner is notified of the decision to begin under this Article, the expropriation procedures are not completed. Article 34 also prohibits planning, dividing, merging and licensing lands from the date owners are notified of the decision to begin.
An owner would therefore do well to keep his verified mobile number, email and accounts in government systems up to date, so as to receive any notification in time.
Practical example
The decision to begin expropriating land owned by Haya in Al-Kharj was issued, and the body sent her a text message to her verified mobile and a notice in her account registered in an electronic government system. Her notification was thus achieved by two of the means specified in the Article.
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 33 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
How will I be notified of the expropriation of my property?
By two of three means: text messages to a verified mobile, email, or one of the accounts registered in the government automated systems.
Is one text message enough for notification?
No. The Article requires notification by two of the specified means.
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 11
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.
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 م
- 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 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.