Article 17 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
المادة 17 من نظام ملكية الوحدات العقارية وفرزها وإدارتها · الفصل الرابع: جمعية الملاك
The article requires the co-owners of a single unit to choose who represents them in the general assembly, and makes its decisions binding on all of them, each according to his share in the unit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تعدد ملاك الوحدة العقارية المفرزة، وجب عليهم أن يختاروا من بينهم من يمثلهم في الجمعية العامة، وتعد قرارات الجمعية العامة ملزمة لجميع الشركاء في الوحدة العقارية المفرزة الواحدة، كل بحسب حصته في ملكية تلك الوحدة.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of a unit owned by more than one person, such as an apartment owned by brothers through inheritance or two partners who bought together. It contains two provisions:
- Choosing one representative: If the owners of a divided unit are several, they must choose from among themselves someone to represent them in the general assembly. The representative is thus one of the partners themselves.
- Binding decisions: The general assembly's decisions are binding on all the partners in a single unit, each according to his share in the ownership of that unit. If the general assembly decided on a contribution for the apartment, each partner is bound in proportion to his share.
The rationale is to organize voting and avoid multiple votes for a single unit, while ensuring each partner is bound by the decision to the extent of his share.
This article is linked to Article 18, which provides that the general assembly consists of all the owners and that its decisions are valid if approved by owners whose ownership represents at least three quarters of the total area of the divided units, unless the articles of association provide a higher percentage. It also follows Article 16, which bars the association from restricting the owner's rights to dispose of his unit or use it within its purposes and without harming the other owners.
The article does not specify how the representative is chosen if the partners disagree; in that case it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in real estate matters.
Practical example
Four brothers inherited an apartment in a building in Abha, each owning a quarter of it. They must choose one of them to represent them in the general assembly of the owners' association. If the general assembly decides on a sum for the apartment, each brother is bound by a quarter of that sum according to his share.
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 17 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
An apartment is owned by several heirs; who attends the general assembly?
The partners must choose from among themselves someone to represent them in the general assembly.
Are the general assembly's decisions binding on all the partners in the apartment?
Yes. Its decisions are binding on all the partners in a single unit, each according to his share in its ownership.
May the representative be from outside the partners?
The text requires choosing the representative from among the partners themselves.
More articles on Owners' Association
- Article 1
The article defines the Law's basic terms, such as division, the divided real estate unit, common parts, the shared property, the real estate complex, the owners' association, the manager and maintenance.
يقصد بالكلمات والعبارات الآتية - أينما وردت في هذا النظام - المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتض السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام ملكية الوحدات العقارية وفرزها
- Article 3
The article allows re-dividing the shared property or changing its use with the approval of the general assembly and any mortgagee, with the plan amended, and sets owners' shares in what results from the change.
1- يجوز إعادة فرز العقار المشترك أو جزء منه أو تغيير استعمالاته؛ بعد موافقة الجمعية العامة، وموافقة المرتهن إن وجد. ولا يخل ذلك بحق المتضرر في اللجوء إلى المحكم
- Article 12
The article requires owners of shared property, when there are 3 or more, to form an owners' association and register it with the Authority, gives it legal personality and a separate financial liability, and requires articles of association.
1- إذا بلغ عدد ملاك الوحدات العقارية المفرزة في عقار مشترك ثلاثة فأكثر؛ فعليهم أن يؤسسوا جمعية بينهم لإدارة شؤون ذلك العقار، وتسجيل تلك الجمعية لدى الهيئة، وإذا
- Article 13
The article allows owners of shared properties within a real estate complex to form a "complex association" with independent legal personality, made up of representatives of the owners' associations, to which the owners' association provisions apply as consistent with its nature.
1- للملاك في العقارات المشتركة التي تقع ضمن مجمع عقاري إنشاء جمعية ذات شخصية معنوية مستقلة تسمى (جمعية المجمع)، تضم ممثلاً أو أكثر عن جمعية الملاك في كل عقار مش
- Article 14
The article provides that the owners' association represents the owners in dispositions arising on the common parts.
تعد جمعية الملاك ممثلةً للملاك فيما يتعلق بالتصرفات التي تنشأ على الأجزاء المشتركة.
- Article 15
The article provides that owning a divided unit in a shared property that has an owners' association is acceptance of its articles of association and a commitment to the general assembly's decisions, without prejudice to Article 6.
دون إخلال بحكم المادة (السادسة) من النظام، يعد امتلاك وحدة عقارية مفرزة في عقار مشترك - مؤسس له جمعية ملاك - قبولاً من المالك بالنظام الأساسي، والتزاماً منه بال
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.