Article 34 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
المادة 34 من نظام نزع ملكية العقارات للمصلحة العامة · الباب السادس: أحكام ختامية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 إبلاغ مالكي العقارات المقرر نزع ملكيتها بقرار البدء في إجراءات نزع الملكية.
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 34 explained in plain English
This Article places restrictions on properties within the project plan after owners are notified of the decision to begin expropriation procedures.
What is prohibited:
- Planning the lands.
- Dividing them.
- Merging one property with another.
- Licensing them for any activity.
Scope: only the lands or properties specified in the project plan, that is, the engineering drawing showing the properties to be expropriated or temporarily occupied.
Start of the prohibition: from the date owners are notified of the decision to begin expropriation procedures, not from the date of submitting the request or the committee's approval.
The purpose is to prevent legal or urban changes to the property that complicate the procedures or affect the compensation. The prohibition is limited to the works mentioned in the text.
The Article comes after Article 33, which sets the means of notifying owners. Anyone who had begun division or licensing procedures on his property before notification would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases to learn the effect on his situation.
Practical example
Rashid intended to divide his land in Medina into residential plots, but he was notified before that of the decision to begin expropriating it for a road project. From the date of his notification, the land may not be divided or licensed for any activity.
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 34 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law
Can I obtain a building permit for land covered by expropriation?
Licensing lands specified in the project plan for any activity is prohibited from the date owners are notified of the decision to begin expropriation procedures.
When does the prohibition on dividing land begin?
From the date the owners of the properties are notified of the decision to begin expropriation procedures.
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 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
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.