Article 50 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 50 من نظام المياه · الفصل العاشر: خدمات المياه
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 تقديم الخدمة، وذلك وفقًا لما تحدده لوائح 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 50 explained in plain English
This article addresses the case where a licensee of a service-provision activity is unable to carry out its licensed activity. The article does not require any particular cause of the inability; it says "for any reason", so any circumstance that prevents the licensee from performing the activity is covered.
What follows from the inability?
- The Authority has a duty to take the necessary arrangements to ensure the service continues.
- The Authority does so in coordination with the Ministry.
- This is done in accordance with what the Authority's regulations specify; the article does not set out the type of these arrangements or their procedures.
The aim is clear: users of water services should not be deprived of them because a service provider has failed. The article focuses on protecting the continuity of the service, and its text does not address the licensee's liability for the inability.
The article is linked to Article 54, which deals with inability combined with the licensee's wish to liquidate its activity or the opening of liquidation proceedings against it under the Bankruptcy Law, and requires it to coordinate with the Authority to transfer ownership of its assets. It is also linked to Articles 48 and 49, which require the Authority's approval for disposing of the license and assets and for mergers. All of these provisions protect the continuity of the service.
A service provider facing difficulty, or a user whose service has been affected, may consult a lawyer specializing in water law and administrative matters.
Practical example
A company licensed to distribute water in one of the governorates stops carrying out its activity because of major equipment failures. Under this article, the Authority, in coordination with the Ministry, takes the necessary arrangements to ensure the service continues to reach users, as its regulations specify.
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 50 of the Saudi Water Law
What happens if a water company stops providing service?
Article 50 requires the Authority, in coordination with the Ministry, to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the service continues, in accordance with the Authority's regulations.
Is a particular reason required for this article to apply?
No. The article applies if the licensee is unable to carry out its activity for any reason.
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 47
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.
1- تتولى الهيئة إصدار الرخص، والإعفاءات، والتصاريح اللازمة لمزاولة أي نشاط من أنشطة تقديم الخدمة، أو الإعداد لمزاولته، وتجديدها، وتعديلها. 2- فيما عدا الأنشطة ا
- 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 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.