Article 5 of the Saudi Expropriation of Real Estate for Public Interest Law

This Article answers an important question: what public interest justifies expropriation? According to the text, the public interest has two forms:

• What achieves a public benefit, such as development or prosperity, in which the interest of society is preferred over any private interest, whether of a natural or legal person or even of a government body.
• What prevents a public harm, such as disasters, epidemics and the like.

The Article then lists works that fall within the public interest, including:

1. Developing the facilities of the Two Holy Mosques and what relates to Hajj, Umrah and visits.
2. Roads, streets, transport lines and land, sea and air transport facilities.
3. Urban planning and development, and building mosques, parks and buildings for social, educational and health services.
4. Power generation and water, electricity, gas, petroleum, sewage, flood drainage, communications and government broadcasting networks.
5. Excavation, exploration and mining.
6. Nature reserves, wildlife and cultural and historical heritage.
7. Internal security and military installations.

The list is not closed; it also includes any works that other laws provide achieve a public interest, and any works the Council of Ministers specifies by decision. This definition comes within a series of conditions, including that in Article 4 that no State properties suffice for the purpose.