New Surveying Decisions Guide: Open Authority and Prohibition of Flood Channels
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and regulating the urban landscape in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing the Unified Procedural Guide for Survey Decisions, representing a significant leap forward in the mechanisms for identifying and documenting properties. This decision comes as part of the Ministry's efforts to unify technical references through the "Baladi" platform, contributing to the protection of property ownership and preventing the overlaps that previously posed a challenge.
The context of digital transformation and the regulation of the real estate sector
The issuance of this guide aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to automate government services and enhance the efficiency of urban planning. Previously, surveying procedures often exhibited inconsistencies in standards across different regions, sometimes leading to disputes over boundaries and ownership. The new regulations aim to eliminate these problems by establishing precise technical standards. This guide serves as the primary reference for all municipalities and governorates when issuing technical documents that accurately define the geographical locations and dimensions of properties.
Application mechanism and technical accuracy standards
The ministry clarified that the beneficiary's journey begins entirely electronically through the "Baladi" platform, where contracts are signed with accredited engineering offices to conduct the field surveys. The guidelines mandate that these offices use advanced monitoring technologies such as GNSS devices and integrated stations to ensure the highest degree of accuracy in coordinates. The regulations have established strict standards for permissible variations, ranging from only 3 millimeters to 5 centimeters depending on the nature of the project, while requiring reliance on the Kingdom's national geodetic reference. The ministry warned that providing any falsified data will subject the engineering office to legal liability.
Open access and protection for flood channels
One of the most prominent aspects of the new guidelines is the emphasis on the fact that surveying decisions do not expire after a specific time period. Rather, they remain valid unless substantial changes occur to the land data or zoning plans that necessitate updating. Furthermore, with regard to enhancing public safety and sustainable planning, the instructions categorically prohibit the adoption of any surveying decision that falls within wadi beds, floodplains, or areas prohibited by royal decree. Offices are obligated to clarify any overlaps to exclude them from the net area, in order to protect lives and property and ensure the smooth flow of natural water drainage.
Separating fees and clarifying ownership
In regulating the financial relationship, the Ministry linked the issuance of the final invoice for service fees to the period following the approval of the technical report by a Secretariat employee. This ensures the accuracy of the outputs before imposing any financial burdens on the beneficiary. The guide also emphasized the necessity of issuing a separate survey decision for each plot of land, clarifying that the role of this decision is limited to the technical description of the land and its boundaries. It is not considered a document proving ownership in itself or for establishing the area of existing buildings, thus clearly separating technical matters from legal procedures related to ownership.
