• The term barren lands in the provisions of this law means any land that meets the following conditions:

  • 1 - That it is detached from ownership rights or jurisdiction.
    2 - That the economic feasibility of exploiting it for agricultural or animal production is proven.
    3 - That it lies outside the boundaries of urban areas and what relates to their interests in cities and villages.
    This is determined by agreement between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture distributes uncultivated lands to those qualified to exploit them according to the rules established in this law, provided that the distributed area is not less than (5) hectares in all cases and does not exceed (10) hectares in the case of distribution to individuals, or (400) hectares in the case of distribution to companies. However, it is permissible by a decision from the Council of Ministers to exceed the mentioned limits.

• A person is considered qualified to exploit barren lands if the following conditions are met:

• 1 - To be a Saudi national, and this condition may be waived by a decision of the Council of Ministers.
  2 - To have legal capacity to perform.
  3 - Not to have previously obtained land under this law with proof of ownership rights therein.

• Preference in the distribution of lands under the law shall be observed according to the following order:

  • 1 - The owner of the land adjacent to the barren lands subject to distribution.
    2 - The residents of the area.
    3 - Those more capable of investment.
    4 - Professional farmers.
    5 - Those who do not own land.

• The land plots to be distributed under this Law shall be determined by the competent authority at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, and they shall be distributed by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Water based on the proposal of a committee composed of:

  • 1- A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water.
    2- A representative from the Ministry of Interior.
    3- A representative from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
    4- A representative from the Presidency of Judges, appointed by the Chief Judge.
    5- Two members of local experts in the region.

• The members shall be appointed by a decision of the competent Minister, and the two expert members shall be appointed by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Water. Prior to issuing the distribution decision, it must be ensured that the land subject to distribution is free of third-party rights by announcing the intention to distribute it on the radio and in one or more widely circulated Saudi newspapers in the region where the land is located at least one month in advance.

The distribution decision specifies the location of the barren land, its area, and its boundaries (according to a map accompanying the decision) and the limited period for its investment in agricultural and animal production. This period must not be less than two years and not exceed three years.

• The issuance of the referenced decision entails the following effects:

  • 1- The person for whom the distribution decision was issued shall have the exclusive right over the land subject to the decision.
    2- The person for whom the decision was issued must invest the land within the specified period in it, and the land shall be considered agriculturally invested by irrigating a portion of it not less than (25%) of its area in a manner that ensures actual production. It shall be considered invested in animal husbandry if the seriousness of animal production is proven during the specified investment period.
    3- The person for whom the distribution decision was issued shall have the right to own the land in accordance with the rules of this law.

The Ministry of Agriculture shall technically supervise the distributed lands and monitor the seriousness of the specialists in investing them. By a decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Water, the specialization of anyone proven incapable of investing the land or not serious in doing so within the specified period after being warned for two months may be canceled, and the land may be allocated to another person who will invest it after paying what his predecessor actually spent on investing the land. However, upon redistribution of the land, the person to whom it is given shall be obligated to compensate his predecessor to the extent that the value of the land has increased due to his predecessor's work on it.

If the party for whom the distribution decision was issued invests the land and the specified investment period ends, the distributed land shall be owned by the party for whom the distribution decision was issued, by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture, provided that this decision shall not be considered effective unless it is ratified by His Majesty the King or his delegate.

A committee shall be formed in the Ministry of Agriculture consisting of representatives from this Ministry, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Water, one of whom shall be a legal advisor to consider all disputes arising from the application of the provisions of this law. The decisions of this committee shall be approved by the Minister of Agriculture, and anyone against whom a decision is issued by this committee may appeal it before the Board of Grievances within sixty days from the date of notification of the decision.