• All natural deposits of minerals, rocks, fossils, and meteorites are the exclusive property of the state according to the Basic Law of the State or its Constitution, and they cannot be acquired by others through prescription. This includes quarry materials of all types, regardless of their form or composition, whether they are in the soil or underground, and located within the territory of the state, its internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf, and the land and maritime areas over which the state has jurisdiction.

• The ownership of natural deposits of minerals, rocks, fossils, and meteorites transfers from the state to the licensee in accordance with this law (system) upon the extraction of that mineral from the area licensed to them, and this is subject to the conditions of the license, during its validity.

• The provisions of this Law shall not apply to:

  • 1. petroleum and natural gas and their derivatives; and

  • 2. pearls, corals, and similar organic marine substances.

• In applying this Law and overseeing its implementation, the competent agency shall have the following powers:

• 1. Designating lands and maritime areas for which licenses may be granted.

• 2. Determining the requirements which shall apply to applicants of any type of license.

• 3. Negotiating rights to be granted under this Law and its Regulations, and issuing licenses granting such rights.

• 4. Providing maps, survey data, and studies required for mining investments.

• 5. Coordinating with the relevant government agencies with regard to the development of facilities and infrastructure required for mining areas.

• 6. Designating mineral reserve areas, in coordination with the relevant agency.

• 7. Overseeing and controlling the technical and financial activities of the licensees under this Law in accordance with the Regulations.

• 8. Determining and collecting fees for the services provided by the competent agency in accordance with the Regulations.

• 9. Determining and collecting fees for exploitation and surface rental in accordance with the Regulations.

• 10. Collecting fees and fines stipulated in this Law in accordance with the Regulations.

• 11. Determining the procedures and requirements necessary for bidding and tenders for exploration and exploitation licenses.

• 12. Determining the conditions necessary for the protection and leveling of the land on which operations are to be carried out under this Law.

• 13. Determining the procedures and designating the forms required for the implementation of this Law.

• 14. Determining the content and format of any study or report required under this Law.

• 15. Providing relevant government agencies and concerned persons with copies of the licenses issued under this Law.

• 16. Issuing the decisions necessary for the implementation of this Law.

• A natural or legal person may not carry out any operation of reconnaissance, exploration, exploitation, or collection of materials except after obtaining the relevant license from the competent agency. However, universities, institutes, and national research centers shall, subject to the approval of the competent agency, be exempted from obtaining the license required for carrying out scientific research related to reconnaissance or exploration of ores and minerals; such research may not be used for commercial purposes without obtaining the approval of the competent agency and submitting a copy of the work or research finding to such agency.

• Subject to the provisions of this law (system) and the relevant laws (systems), the competent authority may issue any license from the licenses stipulated in Article (10) of this law (system) on state-owned lands or in maritime areas.

• Licenses may also be granted on privately owned lands in accordance with what is stipulated in Article twenty-three, or on lands where part is state-owned and the other part is privately owned.

The provisions of this law (system) do not apply to the following:
1- The lands occupied by holy places and places of worship, and the lands officially designated as historical, archaeological, natural reserves, or tourist areas. 
2- The lands on which cities, streets, airports, railways, pipelines, public roads, or any means of public transport or communication are established, or lands allocated for approved water projects, or any public facility, military establishment, or agricultural project. If it is determined that it is possible to extract the existing minerals beneath the surface of the lands mentioned in this paragraph, the competent authority may lift the prohibition on these lands after agreement with the relevant authorities, in accordance with the procedures followed in each country.
3- The lands, marine areas, pastures, and forests that are decided to be excluded or removed from the scope of application of this law (system) by a decision of the competent authority in the state.

• The competent authority may issue a decision designating lands or maritime areas as mineral reserves, and may, for the purpose of preserving such lands and areas for future mining or quarrying, specify the activities not permitted therein in accordance with this Law.

• The competent agency shall establish a registry called the “Application Registry” wherein all license applications are registered, and another registry called the “License Registry” wherein all licenses issued pursuant to this Law are registered. Both registries shall include the details and data prescribed by the Regulations and any amendments to the licenses. Investors and other concerned parties may have access to such registries in accordance with Article 17 of this Law, and pursuant to the terms and conditions prescribed by the Regulations.