Article 18 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 18 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس: استخدام المياه
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بالأمن المائي، أو البيئي، أو الصحة العامة. وتقوم الوزارة بالتنسيق مع الهيئة خلال مدة تحددها لوائح الوزارة قبل أي إجراء في هذا الشأن إذا كان مقامًا على المصدر نشاط تقديم الخدمة مرخصًا به من الهيئة.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article gives the Minister an important power over source use licenses:
The power: the Minister has the right to:
- suspend any source use license, or
- reduce the quantities specified in it.
The reasons:
- Water scarcity or shortage.
- Any reason relating to water security, environmental security or public health.
The exception: the power does not cover what the Ministerial Committee excludes.
Coordination with the Authority: if the source has a service provision activity licensed by the Authority, the Ministry must coordinate with the Authority before any action, within a period set by the Ministry's regulations.
The text does not specify the length of the suspension, and this article does not state any rule on compensation for suspension or reduction, so nothing should be inferred from it on that point.
It is preceded by Article 17, on facilities that may obstruct the use of surface water. It is followed by Article 19, which requires the Ministry to take the necessary measures to prevent the use of unsuitable sources, including stopping the issuance of the license or cancelling it.
To assess the effect of this rule on a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in water and environmental laws.
Practical example
A region went through a period of severe groundwater scarcity, and the Minister decided to reduce the quantities specified in the licenses to use agricultural wells there. He may do so unless the license is one the Ministerial Committee has excluded, and if a service provision activity licensed by the Authority operates on one of the sources, the Ministry must coordinate with it first.
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 18 of the Saudi Water Law
Can a well license be suspended?
Yes. The Minister may suspend any source use license or reduce its quantities because of water scarcity or shortage, or for a reason relating to water security, environmental security or public health, except what the Ministerial Committee excludes.
Must the Ministry coordinate with the Authority before suspending a license?
Yes, if a service provision activity licensed by the Authority operates on the source, within a period set by the Ministry's regulations.
What reasons allow reducing licensed water quantities?
Water scarcity or shortage, or any reason relating to water security, environmental security or public health.
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 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.
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.