Article 8 of the Saudi Real Estate Registration Law
المادة 8 من نظام التسجيل العيني للعقار · الفصل الرابع: التسجيل العيني الأول
The article sets the conditions for first in rem registration: a title deed meeting legal requirements and complete geospatial data. It requires disclosure of documents, regulates survey work, and provides for issuing the title registration deed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يشترط للتسجيل العيني الأول الآتي:
أ- أن يكون للعقار -ما عدا العقارات المملوكة للدولة- صك ملكية مستوفٍ للمتطلبات النظامية.
ب- أن يكون العقار مكتمل البيانات الجيومكانية.
وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات التسجيل العيني الأول.
2- على كل من تطلب منه الجهة المختصة، الإفصاح عن أي مستندات أو بيانات لازمة لصحة وسلامة التسجيل العيني الأول.
3- تجري الجهة المختصة الأعمال المساحية اللازمة للتسجيل العيني الأول، ولها -دون أن تجري تلك الأعمال- استخدام البيانات المتعلقة بالأعمال المساحية المعتمدة من جهة الاختصاص في حال توفرها وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
4- يصدر صك تسجيل الملكية للعقار بعد استكمال الإجراءات اللازمة، وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article explains what is required to register a property for the first time in the real estate register, in four paragraphs:
1- Conditions: First in rem registration requires that:
- The property have a title deed that meets the legal requirements; properties owned by the State are exempt from this condition.
- The property have complete geospatial data.
The Regulations set the procedures for first in rem registration.
2- Disclosure: Anyone whom the competent authority asks to disclose any documents or data needed for the validity and soundness of first in rem registration must provide them. This obligation is not limited to the owner but covers anyone asked to do so.
3- Survey work: The competent authority carries out the necessary survey work, and may, instead of carrying it out, use survey data approved by the competent body if available, as the Regulations specify.
4- Issuing the deed: The title registration deed is issued after the necessary procedures are completed in accordance with the Law and the Regulations.
These conditions come after the real estate zone and the period for receiving applications are designated under Article 7. After the deeds are issued, the competent authority prepares and publishes lists of the properties registered in rem, as Article 9 provides. Anyone whose title deed raises a legal problem would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in real estate matters.
Practical example
Abdullah applied for first in rem registration of his land in Medina after its area was announced as a real estate zone. He has a title deed that meets the legal requirements, and the competent authority asked him for an additional document concerning the land's boundaries, which he must provide. Once the geospatial data and procedures are completed, the title registration deed is issued to him.
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 contentA question about Article 8 of Real Estate Registration Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Real 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
Active contributor
Alolayan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 8 of the Saudi Real Estate Registration Law
What are the conditions for first in rem registration of a property?
The property must have a title deed that meets the legal requirements (except State-owned properties) and complete geospatial data.
Must I provide documents if the competent authority asks for them?
Yes. Anyone whom the competent authority asks to disclose documents or data needed for the validity and soundness of first in rem registration must disclose them.
When is the title registration deed issued?
It is issued after the necessary procedures are completed in accordance with the provisions of the Law and the Regulations.
Do State properties need a title deed for first in rem registration?
The article exempts State-owned properties from the condition of having a title deed that meets the legal requirements.
More articles on First In Rem Registration of Real Estate
- Article 7
The article regulates designating the real estate zone by a decision of the competent authority, its jurisdiction over first in rem registration there, and documenting dealings made during the registration procedures.
1- تحدد المنطقة العقارية بقرار يصدر عن الجهة المختصة، على أن يتضمن القرار تحديداً دقيقاً وبمعالم واضحة للمنطقة والمدة المحددة لاستقبال طلبات التسجيل العيني الأو
- Article 9Amended by M/123
The article obliges the competent authority to prepare lists of properties registered in rem and publish them by the means the Regulations set, including each property's number, location, area and planning data.
تعد الجهة المختصة قوائم بالعقارات المسجلة عينياً بناءً على صكوك تسجيل الملكية الصادرة بموجب أحكام النظام، وتنشرها بالوسائل المناسبة التي تحددها اللائحة، على أن
- Article 12
The article allows owners of properties outside a real estate zone to apply to register them in the real estate register under the conditions and controls set by the Regulations.
لملاك العقارات طلب تسجيل عقاراتهم -الواقعة خارج نطاق المنطقة العقارية- في السجل العقاري وفقاً للشروط والضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 35
The article punishes five violations of the Real Estate Registration Law with a fine of up to one hundred thousand riyals.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها أي نظام آخر، يعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز مائة ألف ريال كل من: 1- امتنع عن الإفصاح -المشار إليه في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الثامنة)- ع
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.