Article 47 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 47 من نظام المياه · الفصل العاشر: خدمات المياه
The article makes issuing, renewing and amending licenses, exemptions and permits for service provision activities the Authority's responsibility, and bans carrying out any of these activities without a license except those exempted by the Authority's regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الهيئة إصدار الرخص، والإعفاءات، والتصاريح اللازمة لمزاولة أي نشاط من أنشطة تقديم الخدمة، أو الإعداد لمزاولته، وتجديدها، وتعديلها.
2- فيما عدا الأنشطة المعفاة من الرخصة أو بعض شروطها التي تحددها لوائح الهيئة؛ لا يجوز القيام بأي نشاط من أنشطة تقديم الخدمة إلا بعد الحصول على الرخصة اللازمة.
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 47 explained in plain English
This article sets the licensing rule for service provision activities. According to Article 1, these activities include desalinating, purifying and treating water, producing water for urban or industrial use, transporting it to distribution points, distributing it, storing it strategically, trading in it and selling it at retail, and collecting, transporting, treating and reusing sewage, and they do not include filling water into containers.
Paragraph (1): the Authority is responsible for:
- Issuing the licenses, exemptions and permits necessary to carry out any service provision activity, or to prepare to carry it out.
- Renewing and amending them.
It is worth noting that the jurisdiction extends to the stage of preparing for the activity, and not only to actually carrying it out.
Paragraph (2): no service provision activity may be carried out except after obtaining the necessary license. The exception is activities exempted from the license or from some of its conditions, which are determined by the Authority's regulations; the article does not itself list these exempted activities.
Other provisions that concern the licensee follow this article, including Article 48, which prevents him from assigning his license or disposing of the licensed assets without the Authority's written permission, and Article 49 on mergers and acquisitions. Article 35 also provides for imposing a financial charge on licenses, according to jurisdiction.
Anyone planning to enter the water or sewage services sector is well advised to check the Authority's requirements and consult a lawyer who specializes in water regulations, commercial matters and companies.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah wants to build a small sewage treatment plant and sell the treated water to a nearby factory. Since collecting, treating and reusing sewage are service provision activities, it must obtain the necessary license from the Authority before carrying out the activity, unless the activity is one of the exempted activities that the Authority's regulations determine.
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 contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 47 of the Saudi Water Law
Do I need a license to carry out a water distribution activity?
Yes. No service provision activity, including water distribution, may be carried out without obtaining the necessary license, except the exempted activities that the Authority's regulations determine.
Who issues water service licenses?
The Authority. It issues, renews and amends the licenses, exemptions and permits, under Article 47.
Is filling water into containers a service provision activity?
No. The definition of a service provision activity in Article 1 expressly excludes the activity of filling water into containers.
More articles on Water Service Licenses and Infrastructure
- 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 48
The article prohibits a licensee for a service provision activity from assigning its license or disposing of the licensed assets in any way before obtaining the Authority's written permission, without affecting the performance of the activity.
لا يجوز للمرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة -قبل الحصول على إذن مكتوب من الهيئة- التنازل عن رخصته، أو التصرف في الأصول المرخَّص لها، سواءً بالنقل، أو البيع، أو الرهن
- Article 49
Article 49 requires a service-activity licensee to get the Authority's approval before merging with others or acquiring most of their shares or assets, and to notify the Authority of any preliminary agreement.
يجب على المرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة الحصول على موافقة الهيئة قبل الاندماج مع أشخاص آخرين، أو امتلاك معظم حصصهم، أو موجوداتهم، ويجب عليه إشعار الهيئة بأي اتفا
- Article 50
Article 50 requires the Authority, in coordination with the Ministry, to make the necessary arrangements to ensure service continues if a service-activity licensee is unable to carry out its activity for any reason.
إذا تعذر على المرخَّص له بنشاط تقديم الخدمة القيام بنشاطه المرخَّص له به لأي سبب، فعلى الهيئة -وبالتنسيق مع الوزارة- اتخاذ الترتيبات اللازمة؛ لضمان استمرار تقدي
- Article 51
Article 51 gives the Authority's inspectors the right to enter sites and facilities licensed by the Authority to check compliance with the Law, and allows the Authority to coordinate with the competent bodies if they are prevented or obstructed.
1- لمفتشي الهيئة الحق في دخول المواقع والمنشآت المرخَّص لها من قبل الهيئة؛ للتأكد من مدى الالتزام بتطبيق أحكام النظام. 2- في حال منع أو إعاقة مفتشي الهيئة عن تأ
- Article 52
Article 52 tasks the Ministry or its delegate with building water harvesting infrastructure and networks outside the jurisdiction of the secretariats, municipalities and special zones when there is no licensee, and treats public water infrastructure as state property.
1- تقوم الوزارة أو من تفوضه في حال عدم وجود مرخَّص له في المناطق الواقعة خارج نطاق اختصاص الأمانات والبلديات والمناطق الخاصة؛ بإنشاء بنى أساسية، وشبكات، وأنظمة
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.