Article 68 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 68 من نظام المياه · الفصل الخامس عشر: المخالفات والعقوبات
The article sets the penalties for violating the Water Law: suspension of the activity for up to one year, cancellation of the license, and a fine of up to twenty million riyals, with a daily fine, doubling on repetition, and publication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يُعاقب من يخالف أيًا من أحكام النظام، أو لوائح الوزارة، أو لوائح الهيئة، أو شروط الرخص، أو الإعفاءات الصادرة وفقًا للنظام؛ بواحدة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية:
أ- إيقاف النشاط، أو الأعمال جزئيًّا، أو كليًّا لمدة لا تتجاوز سنة.
ب- إلغاء الرخصة، أو الإعفاء.
ج- غرامة لا تزيد على عشرين مليون ريـال عن كل مخالفة.
2- للجنة المختصة المشار إليها في المادة (السبعين) من النظام الآتي:
أ- فرض غرامة عن كل يوم يستمر فيه المخالف في ارتكاب مخالفته بعد إبلاغه بقرار اللجنة المختصة في شأنها، على أن يبدأ حساب هذه الغرامة من التاريخ الذي يحدده قرار اللجنة المختصة.
ب- مضاعفة الغرامة الموقعة على المخالف في حالة تكرار المخالفة، وتُعدّ المخالفة مكررة إذا وقعت خلال ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ ارتكاب المخالفة الأولى.
ج- تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة محلية، تصدر في مكان إقامته، فإن لم تكن في مكان إقامته صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون نشر القرار بعد اكتسابه الصفة القطعية.
3- يُضمّن القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على إلزام المخالف بإزالة المخالفة، وإعادة المبالغ التي حصل عليها نتيجة المخالفة إلى أصحابها.
4- تُحدد العقوبات بحسب حجم كل مخالفة على حدة، ويُراعى في ذلك طبيعة المخالفة المرتكبة، وخطورتها في كل حالة، والظروف المشددة والمخففة.
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 68 explained in plain English
This article is the main penalties article in the Water Law. It applies, without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided in another law, to anyone who violates the provisions of the Law, the Ministry's regulations, the Authority's regulations, or the conditions of licenses or exemptions.
The primary penalties (paragraph 1), one or more of which may be imposed:
- Suspending the activity or works, in part or in whole, for a period not exceeding one year.
- Canceling the license or exemption.
- A fine not exceeding SAR 20,000,000 for each violation.
Powers of the competent committee (paragraph 2), which is the committee referred to in Article 70:
- A daily fine for each day the violator continues after being notified of the committee's decision, calculated from the date the decision specifies.
- Doubling the fine on repetition; a violation is repeated if it occurs within 3 years of the date the first violation was committed.
- Publishing a summary of the decision at the violator's expense in a local newspaper in their place of residence, or in the nearest area to them if there is no newspaper, or by any suitable means, according to the type, seriousness and impact of the violation; publication takes place only after the decision becomes final.
Paragraph 3: The penalty decision must require the violator to remove the violation and return to their owners the sums obtained as a result of the violation.
Paragraph 4: The penalty is determined according to the scale of each violation individually, taking into account its nature, seriousness and the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
The acts that count as violations are listed in Article 67, and Article 69 punishes attempt and concealment with half the penalty. Article 70 regulates the two committees and allows objection to their decisions before the Administrative Court within 60 days of notification of the decision. Anyone on whom a penalty has been imposed would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in water and environmental regulation and administrative cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh is the subject of a decision by the competent committee imposing a fine for violating its license conditions, and then commits the same violation two years after the first. Because the violation occurred within 3 years of the date of the first violation, it is a repeat violation, and the committee may double the fine.
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 68 of the Saudi Water Law
What is the fine for violating the Water Law?
A fine not exceeding twenty million riyals for each violation, with which, or instead of which, the activity may be suspended or the license canceled.
When is a water violation considered repeated?
If it occurs within three years of the date the first violation was committed, and the committee may then double the fine.
Can a daily fine be imposed on someone violating the Water Law?
Yes. The committee may impose a fine for each day the violator continues after being notified of its decision, calculated from the date the decision specifies.
When is the penalty decision published?
After it becomes final, at the violator's expense, according to the type, seriousness and impact of the violation.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Water Violations and Penalties
- 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 65
Article 65 makes detecting violations of the Water Law and its regulations, and investigating them, the tasks of the Ministry and the Authority, each within its competence, and allows them to qualify specialized companies or offices for monitoring and detecting violations.
1- تتولى الوزارة والهيئة -كلٌّ فيما يخصه- ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام، ولوائح الوزارة، ولوائح الهيئة، والتحقيق فيها، واتخاذ الإجراءات النظامية حيالها، وفقًا لما تح
- Article 66
Article 66 specifies who approves the controls for detecting violations of the Water Law, who appoints those assigned to detection and investigation as law enforcement officers, and their powers of inspection and access to records.
1- يعتمد الوزير ومجلس الإدارة -كل فيما يخصه- الضوابط الخاصة بضبط مخالفات النظام، وإثباتها، والتحقيق فيها. 2- يُحدّد الوزير، والمحافظ -كل فيما يخصه- من منسوبي ال
- Article 67
The article lists seventeen acts that count as violations of the Water Law, including operating without a license, giving misleading information, causing water scarcity or pollution, and unlawful connection to networks.
دون إخلال بالأنظمة الأخرى، يُعدّ القيام بأي من الأفعال الآتية مخالفة للنظام: 1- مزاولة أي نشاط أو عمل من الأنشطة الخاضعة للنظام دون الحصول على رخصة. 2- الإدلاء
- Article 69
The article punishes anyone who attempts to violate the Water Law or conceals a violator with half the prescribed penalty, and with the full penalty on repetition.
يعاقب من يشرع في مخالفة أي حكم من أحكام النظام أو يتستر على أي مخالف لأحكامه بنصف العقوبة المقررة للمخالفة، وفي حال التكرار يعاقب بالعقوبة ذاتها المقررة للمخالف
- Article 70
Article 70 creates two committees to hear violations of the Water Law, one for the Ministry and one for the Authority, sets their composition and approval of their decisions, and allows objection before the Administrative Court within 60 days.
1- يتولى النظر والفصل في مخالفات أحكام النظام المتعلقة باختصاص الوزارة ولوائحها، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في النظام، وتقدير التعويضات، لجنة -أو أكثر- تكون
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.