Unified Guide to Survey Decisions: New Regulations of the Ministry of Municipalities
In a regulatory move aimed at enhancing transparency and regulating the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced the adoption of the Unified Procedural Guide for Survey Decisions. This step is part of the Ministry's comprehensive strategy to automate municipal procedures and unify technical standards through the "Baladi" platform, contributing to the protection of property rights and preventing overlaps that previously posed obstacles.
The context of digital transformation and the regulation of the real estate sector
This decision aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to digitize real estate assets and enhance the urban landscape. Previously, surveying procedures sometimes suffered from inconsistencies in standards or reliance on traditional methods, leading to data inaccuracies. With the launch of this guide, the Ministry is establishing a new phase based entirely on precise geospatial data, thereby strengthening the reliability of real estate deeds and supporting the investment environment by providing a clear legal and technical infrastructure for both developers and property owners.
Open validity and precise technical standards
One of the most significant aspects of the new guide is the granting of "open-ended validity" to surveying decisions. The ministry confirmed that these decisions do not expire after a specific timeframe and remain in effect unless substantial changes occur to the land data or zoning plans that necessitate updating. This approach reduces the financial and administrative burden on beneficiaries who previously had to renew documents periodically.
On the technical side, the guidelines require accredited engineering offices to use advanced monitoring technologies based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), with a requirement to link to the Kingdom's national geodetic reference. The regulations have established strict accuracy standards, with permissible margins of error ranging from only 3 millimeters to 5 centimeters, depending on the nature of the project, to ensure that the field data matches the actual situation on the ground.
Protecting land and prohibiting construction in floodplains
Out of the state's commitment to public safety and property protection, the guide includes firm directives prohibiting the issuance or approval of any surveying decisions for lands located within wadi and floodplain areas, or in areas prohibited by royal decree. The ministry has mandated that engineering offices clarify any overlaps on the site and exclude prohibited areas from the total net land area, thus curbing illegal encroachments and protecting buyers from future risks.
Application procedures and handling of discrepancies
The ministry has made the service fully electronic through the "Baladi" platform. The process begins with contracting an engineering firm to conduct a field survey and ends with the issuance of the decision and payment of fees after final approval by the municipality staff. This ensures the accuracy of the outputs before any costs are imposed on the beneficiary. The guidelines also grant municipalities flexibility in addressing minor discrepancies between the deed area and the actual size within specified tolerance margins, along with precise regulation of any additional grants. This facilitates ownership procedures and reduces real estate disputes.
