Article 7 of the Saudi Real Estate Investment Schemes Law
المادة 7 من نظام المساهمات العقارية · الفصل الثاني: الترخيص والاشتراكات
The article allows the Authority to require a reserve amount, not exceeding 15% of the estimated cost, to be added to a scheme's capital, which may be used only with the participants' assembly's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للهيئة اشتراط إضافة مبلغ احتياطي إلى رأس مال المساهمة العقارية بما لا يتجاوز (15%) من تكلفتها التقديرية، وذلك لمقابلة أي مصاريف إضافية غير متوقعة. ويكون التصرف بالمبلغ الاحتياطي بموافقة الجمعية. وتحدد اللائحة الشروط اللازمة لذلك، وكيفية إعادته للمساهمين في حال عدم التصرف به.
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 7 explained in plain English
Unexpected expenses may arise in real estate development projects, so this article deals with the reserve amount:
- Who decides it? The General Authority for Real Estate may require it to be added to the scheme's capital; it is a power of the Authority and not an obligation in every scheme.
- How much is it? Not more than 15% of the scheme's estimated cost.
- Why? To meet any unexpected additional expenses.
- Who authorizes its use? It may be used only with the approval of the assembly, that is, the assembly of participants as Article 1 defines it.
The article refers to the regulations the conditions needed for this and how the amount is returned to participants if it is not used. So the article establishes the principle of return where it is not used, while the regulations set out the method.
This protection is important for the participant, since the licensee or manager cannot spend the reserve on their own decision. The provision is linked to Article 6, which shows that the estimated cost comes from a licensed valuation entity, and that cost is the basis from which the 15% is calculated. Anyone with a dispute over spending the reserve may consult a lawyer specialized in real estate matters.
Practical example
The cost of a scheme in Madinah was estimated at a certain amount, and the Authority required a reserve of 10% of it to be added. During development the cost of infrastructure works rose, so the assembly was called to vote on spending part of the reserve, and it was not spent until the assembly approved.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentReal Estate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Real Estate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Qarawi Law and Notary Office, Riyadh
Frequently asked questions about Article 7 of the Saudi Real Estate Investment Schemes Law
What is the maximum reserve amount in a real estate investment scheme?
Not more than 15% of the scheme's estimated cost.
Who approves spending the reserve amount?
Spending the reserve amount requires the approval of the participants' assembly.
What happens to the reserve amount if it is not spent?
The regulations set how it is returned to participants if it is not used.
More articles on Scheme Capital and Shares
- Article 6
The article provides that a scheme's capital, on which the number and amount of shares are calculated, is set by the estimated cost from a licensed valuation entity after the approval of the Authority and the Capital Market Authority.
يحدد رأس مال المساهمة العقارية، الذي على أساسه يُحتسب عدد الحصص ومقدارها من خلال التكلفة التقديرية من قبل جهة تقييمية مرخصة، بعد موافقة الهيئة وهيئة السوق المال
- Article 8
The article allows a participant to join a real estate investment scheme with an in-kind or cash share, and refers to the regulations the type of in-kind share and its conditions.
يحق للمساهم الاشتراك في المساهمة العقارية، بحصة عينية أو نقدية. وتحدد اللائحة نوع الحصة العينية والشروط الواجب توافرها فيها.
- Article 9
The article divides a scheme's capital into shares equal in value and rights, limits each participant's liability to the shares they own, and assigns regulation of the register of participants to the Capital Market Authority.
1- يقسم رأس مال المساهمة العقارية إلى حصص متساوية القيمة والحقوق، وتكون مسؤولية المساهمين في حدود ما يملكون من حصص في المساهمة العقارية. 2- تقوم هيئة السوق الما
- Article 10
The article prohibits lending from a scheme's capital and allows borrowing against the scheme's funds or assets if the scheme agreement includes this, under the conditions the regulations set.
لا يجوز الإقراض من رأس مال المساهمة العقارية، ويجوز الاقتراض بضمان أموال أو أصول المساهمة العقارية على أن يتم تضمين اتفاقية المساهمة ذلك، وتحدد اللائحة الاشتراط
- Article 11
The article makes a scheme's net assets owned by the scheme and bars creditors of participants, the licensee and the scheme manager from any right in its funds or assets except what they own in shares.
يكون صافي أصول المساهمة العقارية من أصول ثابتة نقدية وعينية أو حقوق لدى الغير؛ مملوكة للمساهمة العقارية. وليس لدائني المساهمين أو المرخص له أو مدير المساهمة الع
- Article 12
The article requires the licensee's percentage in the scheme to be no less than the regulations specify and held until the scheme ends, and allows other participants to dispose of their shares under the regulations' conditions.
1- يجب ألا تقل نسبة المرخص له في المساهمة العقارية عن النسبة التي تحددها اللائحة، وأن يحتفظ لنفسه بملكية هذه النسبة حتى انقضاء المساهمة العقارية. 2- يجوز لبقية
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.