Article 73 of the Saudi Water Law

This article is a transitional provision that encourages property owners to disclose unlicensed wells instead of hiding them.

The content of the provision: anyone who discloses the existence of unlicensed wells on their property is exempt from the fine specified for unlicensed wells, if the disclosure is made within two years of the date the Law came into force.

The extension: Royal Decree No. (M/68) dated 28/5/1444 AH was issued approving an extension of the period stated in this article by one additional year.

The limits of the exemption as the text shows them:

• The exemption is from the fine specified for unlicensed wells, and the article does not mention an exemption from anything else.
• Its condition is disclosing the well on the property within the stated period; someone who does not disclose within it does not benefit from this exemption.
• The article does not state the body to which the disclosure is made or how, nor what follows from disclosure as regards licensing the well afterwards.

The text does not give the date the Law came into force or the end date of the period after its extension, so this should be checked with the competent body before relying on the exemption.

This article sits between Article 72, which makes the person committing a violation liable for damages and repair costs, and Article 74, which allows the Ministry to delegate some of its tasks. Someone who owns property with an unlicensed well and wants to know their position can consult a lawyer specializing in water, environmental and administrative law, or a lawyer specializing in real estate matters.