Article 15 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 15 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس: استخدام المياه
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تُخصص كميات الاستخدام من المياه للأغراض التنموية بقرار من اللجنة الوزارية -بناءً على اقتراح الوزارة- اعتمادًا على خصائص الطبقات الحاملة للمياه، ومعدل الجريان السنوي للأودية، بما يضمن استدامتها، وإمدادات مياه الشرب الحالية والمستقبلية، وذلك بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article regulates the allocation of water quantities for development purposes:
- Decision-maker: the Ministerial Committee, which under Article 1 is chaired by the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, with the Ministers of Energy; Industry and Mineral Resources; Economy and Planning; Finance; and Municipal and Rural Affairs as members.
- Basis: the Ministry's proposal.
- Allocation criteria:
- The characteristics of the water-bearing aquifers.
- The annual flow rate of the valleys.
- Purpose: that the allocation ensures the sustainability of the sources and current and future drinking water supplies.
- Procedure: this is done in coordination with the relevant bodies.
The practical meaning is that the water quantities allocated for development are not open-ended, but are estimated on a technical basis related to the capacity of the sources, while protecting drinking water now and in the future. The text does not specify particular quantities.
It is preceded by Article 14, on informing the Ministry of any indicator or change in water sources. It is followed by Article 16, which regulates the use of water allocated for agricultural purposes and requires a license for agricultural water supply activities.
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 15 of the Saudi Water Law
Who allocates water quantities for development projects?
The Ministerial Committee, by its decision on the Ministry's proposal.
On what basis is water allocated for development?
On the characteristics of the water-bearing aquifers and the annual flow rate of the valleys, in a way that ensures their sustainability and current and future drinking water supplies.
Does the allocation take drinking water into account?
Yes. The text requires the allocation to ensure current and future drinking water supplies.
More articles on Water Use Priorities and Allocation
- Article 12
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.
يكون استخدام المياه وتخصيصها وفقًا للأولويات الآتية على الترتيب: 1- الاحتياجات البشرية الأساسية. 2- سقيا الحيوانات. 3- الطلب الزراعي والعمراني والصناعي، والحد ا
- 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 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.