Article 12 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 12 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس: استخدام المياه
The article ranks the priorities for water use and allocation: basic human needs, then watering animals, then agricultural, urban and industrial demand and the environmental minimum, as decided by the Ministerial Committee.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون استخدام المياه وتخصيصها وفقًا للأولويات الآتية على الترتيب:
1- الاحتياجات البشرية الأساسية.
2- سقيا الحيوانات.
3- الطلب الزراعي والعمراني والصناعي، والحد الأدنى للتوازن البيئي، ونحوها من الأغراض. وتحدد الأولويات في هذه الحالة بقرار من اللجنة الوزارية بناءً على اقتراح الوزارة.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article sets the ladder of priorities according to which water is used and allocated, in order:
- Basic human needs.
- Watering animals.
- Agricultural, urban and industrial demand, and the minimum for environmental balance, and similar purposes.
The phrase "in order" means the first priority comes before the second, and the second before the third.
As for within the third rank, the text does not rank the agricultural, urban, industrial and environmental purposes among themselves, but makes setting priorities among them by decision of the Ministerial Committee on the Ministry's proposal. It cannot be understood from the text that agriculture comes before industry or the reverse.
The practical effect of this order appears in allocation and when water is scarce, since people's basic needs come before anything else.
It is preceded by Article 11, under which well licenses do not pass with the transfer of land ownership except with the Ministry's approval, and followed by Article 13, which requires government bodies and the private sector to coordinate with the Ministry on water needs when preparing national and development plans.
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 12 of the Saudi Water Law
What are the priorities for water use under the law?
Basic human needs first, then watering animals, then agricultural, urban and industrial demand and the minimum for environmental balance and similar purposes.
Does agriculture come before industry in water use?
The text puts them in the same rank, and makes setting priorities between them by decision of the Ministerial Committee on the Ministry's proposal.
Who sets the priorities in the third rank?
The Ministerial Committee, by its decision on the Ministry's proposal.
More articles on Water Use Priorities and Allocation
- Article 13
The article requires government bodies and the private sector to coordinate with the Ministry on water needs when preparing national and development plans.
تلتزم الجهات الحكومية والقطاع الخاص -عند إعداد الخطط الوطنية والتنموية- بالتنسيق مع الوزارة فيما يتعلق بالاحتياجات المائية اللازمة لتلك الخطط.
- Article 14
The article requires public and private bodies to inform the Ministry of any indicator or change they detect in the water sources belonging to them, and requires the Ministry to follow it up.
على جميع الجهات العامة والخاصة موافاة الوزارة بأي مؤشر أو تغير ترصده في أي مصدر من مصادر المياه التابعة لها، وعلى الوزارة متابعة ذلك.
- Article 15
The article makes the allocation of water quantities for development purposes a decision of the Ministerial Committee on the Ministry's proposal, based on aquifer characteristics and the annual flow of valleys.
تُخصص كميات الاستخدام من المياه للأغراض التنموية بقرار من اللجنة الوزارية -بناءً على اقتراح الوزارة- اعتمادًا على خصائص الطبقات الحاملة للمياه، ومعدل الجريان ال
- Article 16
The article requires water allocated for agriculture to be used under the national strategies set by the Minister, and requires a license for agricultural water supply activities and the Ministry's principal buyer activities.
1- تستخدم المياه المخصصة للأغراض الزراعية، وفقًا للاستراتيجيات الوطنية المعتمدة للوزارة التي تُحدد بقرار من الوزير. 2- لا يجوز القيام بأي من الأعمال أو الأنشطة
- Article 17
The article bars the relevant bodies from issuing licenses or approvals for any facility that may obstruct the use of surface water except with the Ministry's prior approval.
على الجهات المعنية عدم إصدار رخص أو موافقات على إقامة أيّ منشأة قد تعوق استخدام المياه السطحية إلا بموافقة مسبقة من الوزارة.
- Article 18
The article gives the Minister the right to suspend any source use license or reduce its quantities because of water scarcity or shortage, or water, environmental or public health security, except what the Ministerial Committee excludes.
للوزير -فيما عدا ما تستثنيه اللجنة الوزارية- الحق في إيقاف أي رخصة استخدام مصدر، أو تخفيض الكميات المحددة فيها لأسباب شح المياه، أو نقصها، أو لأي سبب متعلق بالأ
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.