Article 8 of the Saudi Water Law
المادة 8 من نظام المياه · الفصل الرابع: مصادر الياه وملكيتها
The article provides that water sources are public property to be benefited from in accordance with the Water Law and other laws, without prejudice to rights established by Sharia.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بالحقوق المُقررة شرعًا، تُعد مصادر المياه ملكًا عامًا، يتم الانتفاع بها طبقًا لأحكام النظام والأنظمة الأخرى.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article lays down a basic rule on the ownership of water sources:
- The rule: water sources are considered public property.
- Benefit: they are benefited from in accordance with the provisions of the law and other laws.
- The qualification: all of this is without prejudice to rights established by Sharia.
Under Article 7, water sources are surface water and renewable and non-renewable groundwater.
The practical effect of sources being public property is that benefiting from them is regulated and not unrestricted; this is why Article 9 follows, barring the use or development of any water source, other than seawater, or preparing for either, except after obtaining the necessary license, according to the financial fee set by the Ministerial Committee and the requirements set by the Ministry.
As for the phrase "without prejudice to rights established by Sharia", it preserves rights established under Sharia. The text does not specify these rights or how they are reconciled with public ownership. Anyone who has a right he considers established by Sharia in a water source would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in water laws and real estate cases.
Practical example
Fahd owns agricultural land in Qassim that contains a groundwater source. Under this article, water sources are considered public property, so benefiting from this source is in accordance with the provisions of the law and other laws, without prejudice to rights established by Sharia.
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 8 of the Saudi Water Law
Does the groundwater on my land belong to me?
The article provides that water sources are public property to be benefited from in accordance with the provisions of the law and other laws, without prejudice to rights established by Sharia.
How are water sources benefited from?
In accordance with the Water Law and other laws, and Article 9 requires a license to use any water source other than seawater.
Does the law cancel Sharia rights in water?
No. The text establishes public ownership without prejudice to rights established by Sharia.
More articles on Ownership of Water Sources and Use Licenses
- Article 7
The article provides that water sources are surface water and renewable and non-renewable groundwater.
تشمل مصادرُ المياه ما يأتي: 1- المياه السطحية. 2- المياه الجوفية المتجددة، وغير المتجددة.
- Article 9
The article bars using or developing any water source other than seawater, or preparing for either, without a license, and requires the Ministry's prior approval for the site of any desalination plant.
1- فيما عدا مياه البحر، لا يجوز لأي شخص استخدام أي مصدر مائي، أو تنميته، أو الإعداد لذلك إلا بعد الحصول على الرخصة اللازمة؛ وفقًا للمقابل المالي للرخصة الذي تحد
- Article 10
The article gives the Ministry the right to impose meters on wells in non-renewable aquifers to monitor consumption under the water allowances, and lets the Ministerial Committee consider imposing a fee when the allowance is exceeded.
للوزارة الحق في فرض تركيب عدادات؛ لقياس تدفق المياه من الآبار الواقعة في الطبقات الحاملة للمياه غير المتجددة؛ لمراقبة وتنظيم كمية استهلاك وترشيد استخدامها؛ وفقً
- Article 11
The article provides that licenses to use well water sources do not pass with the transfer of ownership of the land containing the source except with the Ministry's approval.
لا تنتقل تراخيص استخدام مصادر مياه الآبار تبعًا لنقل ملكية الأرض المشتملة على المصدر إلا بعد موافقة الوزارة.
- Article 34
The article requires the Ministry, before transferring a source use license from one user to another, to verify there is no higher-priority or more viable request and that the new use fits the strategy and safe yield, and to coordinate with the Authority where needed.
1- على الوزارة -قبل نقل رخصة استخدام المصدر من مستخدم إلى آخر- التحقق من عدم وجود طلب آخر أكثر أولوية أو أكثر جدوى من الاستخدام المطلوب النقل إليه، وأن يكون الا
- Article 35
The article authorizes the Ministry or the Authority, each within its jurisdiction, to impose a financial charge on licenses and on applications to transfer water use rights.
تفرض الوزارة أو الهيئة -بحسب الاختصاص- مقابلاً ماليًا على الرخص وطلبات نقل حقوق الاستخدام.
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.