Details of Cabinet’s decision on white land ownership transfer

Umm Al-Qura published the Saudi Cabinet decision stipulating that no real estate transaction transferring ownership of land subject to the White Land and Vacant Properties Fees Law may be registered until payment of the fees due on the land has been verified.

Under the decision, the Ministerial Committee stipulated in Article 14 of the law may take any measures it deems appropriate to achieve the law's objectives.

The decision also stipulates that real estate transactions that do not transfer ownership of land subject to the law shall be registered in a manner that safeguards the state's right to collect the fees due, without affecting the development of such land.

The Ministerial Committee will establish the rules and procedures governing the implementation of the decision.

According to Argaam data, the Cabinet recently approved the requirement that fees due on land subject to the White Land and Vacant Properties Fees Law be paid before any ownership-transfer transaction can be registered.

Article 14 of the law stipulates that the Cabinet shall form the Ministerial Committee, which is responsible for overseeing implementation of the law, proposing measures it deems appropriate, and submitting an annual report on the matter to the Cabinet.